Gear Install Question

Help needed from the experts. I have removed and disassembled my Dana 30 axle out of my 1990 Comanche. I am in the process of installing 4:56 gears. During the disassembly I mutilated the oil baffle(slinger) behind the inner pinion bearing race and it is not usable and my install kit does not have a new one. This baffle is .015 thick and works in combination with shims to set the pinion depth. Can I just add .015 worth of extra shims or is it crucial that I install a new baffle?? Thanks

The large diameter slinger, bigger than the pinion head? I always kept spares around.. you might get by without it, but I would seriously not recommend it. Possible problems include burned up bearings or chronically leaking pinion seal.

The baffle must be used with a high pinion axle. It's job is to keep the pinion bearings properly lubricated. Get a new one before proceeding.

The baffle that I'm talking about is the one that sits behind the inner pinion bearing race not the large one that is bigger than the pinion head.