I installed my new 4.10 gears and true trac. I got the pinion preload and backlash correct. I never did measure pinion depth as i never had nothing to do it with. But I never put a pinion shim in, I forgot about it, don't know if you need one always. I put it all back together and test drove it, there is no noise at all, so I assume the pinion depth should be alright then?

 

I know this is kinda old but if there is no noise then that is good..but if the pinion gear doesnt go deep enough into the ring gear then it could be week and possibly under a hard launch or a touch of wheelhop and could also have unusuall wear...Did you put the marking paint on your ring gear and run it through the pinion gear to see where the contact was?

 

If he didn't even put the stock shim back on the pinion, I wouldn't be surprised if it's already broken.

 

did you atleast mark the teeth and turn the gear over to see how the teeth were making contact?