9" tip
 

sometime back I posted a ?, if you could take the pinion out [while the case was still in the housing], without taking the ring gear out first. I never got any answers. so I figured I would try. I worked, at least for me. I have a 5.67 gear with a 7 tooth pinion. I loosened the pinion support and turned the tire and screwed the pinion right out. replaced the O ring, pushed it back in the case and turned the tire the opposite way and screwed the pinion right back in. 5 minutes rather than 4 hours. cool.
Rod in AZ