Question about diff carriers?

[Dan Hatch]

Looking at carriers I have. Most have grooves where the thrust plates have dropped down and worn a place. What does that hurt in the long run? I know why it happened, only one pin holding the plate. See red circle in picture.
What if you added a second pin across from it to hold th plate from more rubbing? See yellow circle in same picture.
Any comments? Dan

[speedytinc]

I see nothing wrong in adding a second pin.
That will keep the thrust washer from pivoting on the single pin, wearing into the carrier.
I dont see there being any more than minor wear in a well lubricated rear end. Where I have seen the most wear here is in a dry rear end from a trailer/hay wagon.
The dropping of the thrust washer is typically caused from a Babbitt thrust washer failure.
In a properly clearanced carrier that drop cant happen as the clearance is .005 & the pins are .062"+ proud of the surface.

[DanTreace]

Only thing that can concern is if the collar is grooved too deep or oblong from a loose thrust steel plate, might let a plate wiggle more if only the one factory pin.

[Shrshot]

Looking at carriers I have. Most have grooves where the thrust plates have dropped down and worn a place. What does that hurt in the long run? I know why it happened, only one pin holding the plate. See red circle in picture.
What if you added a second pin across from it to hold th plate from more rubbing? See yellow circle in same picture.
Any comments? Dan
IMG_4820.jpeg

Dan, I did that exact thing last winter when I rebuilt my rear axle on my Tudor. So far I have had no problems/issues with it. I also added a 1/8" pipe plug in the bottom to make it easier to drain lube when changing. I did drain and refill a couple of weeks ago, when I put it to bed for winter. I also took a look with my borescope going through the fill plug hole, and everything looked great. Not even any shavings in the bottom.

[Allan]

When returning Henrietta to the road after her 62 year slumber, I checked the oil level in the diff. There was none! But there was a deal of grease, so I could not drain it. I put the plug back in, and eight years later she still goes down the road as well as any T I have ever owned. If ever i need to pull it down, perhaps to replace original thrust washers, I will report my findings. It may mean it just might get a new charge of grease rather than oil that leaks. It ain"t broke yet, so I am not about to fix it!

Allan from down under.