Unfortunately, changing pinion depth by trying to tighten it will not correct this. I attached the process to check and adjust backlash. You adjust backlash by moving the ring gear left or right. This will put the tooth of the ring gear deeper or more shallow in relation to the pinion. The pinion needs to be set at the at the proper depth or your backlash will be way off. If the pinion is to far into the case (over tightened) then your ring gear teeth will not ride in the center of the pinion teeth and it will cause an even louder noise or even chip teeth.
Here is a video as well that shows this being set up:
https://youtu.be/zm-83tWWFCc
Unfortunately if this is the case on your truck, you are correct that the backlash is most likely off or the pinion could be loose but the only way to fix it is take it apart, and reshim it.
In some very rare cases you may just have old or no fluid in the differential so maybe try servicing it first but if it is already clunking and howling then it is most likely worn an incorrect pattern and needs to be replaced.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/differential-service
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Sunday, October 25th, 2020 AT 7:09 AM
