Recently installed a new nut and crush sleeve. Torqued it down pretty good, but there is still some play left in the pinion.
Small leak, now out of the input seal. Maybe lost 2 ml of fluid.
I think you found your problem.
Stop driving it now- you are currently damaging your ring and pinion along with the pinion bearings.
What led you down the path to replace the crush sleeve in the first place?
FYI- when your replace a crush sleeve the amount of torque that must be applied to the pinion nut to start crushing the crush sleeve can be quite high. Like a few hundred foot pounds. Once it starts deforming it gets a little easier, and you slowly tighten it up until nearly all the play is removed. Once you get to that point work in even smaller increments (maybe turn it 30min at a time if it was a clock). Checking between every small pinion nut tightening operation with a dial or beam type inch pound torque wrench. Continue until the drag (preload) is within specification. Be careful not to overshoot, you cannot go backwards.
Download and read the rear axle section of the TM.
I find that it is easier to remove the pinion carrier from the 14 bolt axle and do the work on the bench, with a very sturdy vice or use a hydraulic press to hold everything while torquing the daylights out of the pinion nut.
