Transaxle input pinion gear

[Big Wood]

How much backlash should the pinion gear have? I am rehabbing a '98 DS electric and I know we are not dealing with a Swiss watch but ... I just removed the motor and found what appears to be a fair amount of rust and ware on the pinion input shaft splines and also there is a fair amount of backlash to the pinion gear. Wondering if there is a tolerance and how it is measured (checked the CC service manual and didnt see any reference to tolerance). Thanks in advance

[NoleFan4Ever]

They are not shimmed or set up for pinion depth as an automotive rear end is. Hard to describe how much is correct, but there is a fair amount...

[Fairtax4me]

Originally Posted by Big Wood

How much backlash should the pinion gear have? I am rehabbing a '98 DS electric and I know we are not dealing with a Swiss watch but ... I just removed the motor and found what appears to be a fair amount of rust and ware on the pinion input shaft splines and also there is a fair amount of backlash to the pinion gear. Wondering if there is a tolerance and how it is measured (checked the CC service manual and didnt see any reference to tolerance). Thanks in advance

Worn splines are very common for that era. Some backlash is normal. Im not sure of the tolerance for backlash, but if you open up the case and check the gears you should see flats across the top edges of the teeth. If the teeth are worn to points then it’s safe to say they’re excessively worn and could stand to be replaced.
The thing about those older trans axles is they are getting harder to get parts for. So sometimes the best option is to ignore the wear and put it back together and run it.

[Big Wood]

Thanks .... that is pretty much what I was thinking. Haven't cracked the case and at this point Im not until there is a real issue.

[Big Wood]

Thanks for your reply...gonna run it as is....