Side gears thrust washer play

Guys, my passenger side rear axle shaft has a play of exactly 2.2mm (in and out) since 3 month.

3 month ago i did an overhaul rebuilt for my 8.25 with 2 new rear axle shafts after the old ones got worn from a mechanic mistake (cutting the carrier axle pin in half)

I have an ARB locker .

I opened the diff to inspect that 2.2mm play, i swapped the rear axle shafts with the c-clips and the play was still there (passenger side).

looking further inside the ARB we found that the passenger side gear thrust washer is the problem, it gets in and out (around 1mm) when we hard push/pull the axle shaft by hands.

Mechanic said it wont go bad any further if i don't burn wheels on asphalt or go crazy spinning tires.

We dont have ARB thrust washer kit in Lebanon and i have to ship it from the US, meanwhile is it safe to drive the jeep and not worrying to destroy that side gear or the rest of the spider gears?

Thank you

As long as you have good oil in it and there is no galling on the washer, case or gears then you should be able to drive normally. But you are right, it should be fixed

isn't some end play is normal for a c-clip axle?

C clip axles have end play. The axle just floats on the bearing and the inner side gears or if you have a locker the locker cogs.


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