Spicer 70 Ring and Pinion Backlash seems extreme.

[James E Vining]

I got the MH jacked up and Took off the Diff cover, Oil was a brownish which worries me, been sitting in my driveway since 2008 so It has not been driven on that Goo by me, but I did notice the freeplay/backlash between the ring and Pinion seems excessive. I read it was to be between .004-.009" now I am not Positive as I do not have a Dial indicator but I have done alot of Tight tolerance machining and I am suspecting its more like .019 and .022" .
I also read on these that it is only corrected by shims, Man I miss my 8 3/4 that was an awesome Rear End, though not a Full Floating Design.