Driveline slack, what is too much?

[Mert]

Hi All! A question for the real gearheads. Approaching 200K miles on my '91 Toy 4x4 22RE, 5spd. With the rear axle off the ground and wheel removed, the hub rim will rotate rougly 1/8th" either direction before I feel resistance from the diff. It will rotate another 1/8th" before engaging the diff and moving the driveshaft to the t-case. U-Joints are tight and driveshaft seems tight. Makes me wonder how much rotational gear slop is too much? The Marlin diff is 1 yr new but all else is @ 200K near as I can tell.

[jrock]

That's fine. Check it in the front, it'll have way more slop.

[Mert]

Great! If this is within "normal" tolerance then I expect that the balance of slop encountered when engaging the clutch can be found inside those wonderous gear cases sitting beneath the cab. Fine by me. My tools get lonely when they don't get used. Thanks!

[twistedtoy92]

That's fine. Check it in the front, it'll have way more slop.

X2

[BigMike]

I'm pretty sure my truck has more than an eight of an inch rotation in each direction on my 8 year old Marlin rear differential.

BigMike