10.25 Sterling Carrier swelled up

[scopx]

Just pulled down Ford 10.25 Sterling full floater to replace ring and pinion gear to higher numerically ratio. There was great difficulty In separating "ring" from carrier, and originally thought a previous builder had locktited entire ring mounting surface. With much cursing and gnashing of teeth, finally got it apart without breaking tone wheel. It appears the carrier had swelled beyond the inside diameter of the ring gear.
I have stoned the mounting surface, radiused the junction of carrier and ring inside diameter where ring had made impression on it.
And then as a precaution, dusted mounting surface with contrasting color, and will stone again.
It is my supposition that somewhere in the past, this rear end has been overheated and caused this situation.
Has anyone experienced this difficulty?
Also, just thought of another curiosity. After pulling carrier from housing, the pinion gear almost fell out in cavity. Upon removal, the large pinion bearing (rear)came off with no prompting-just "slud" off. The pinion gear did show ford logo, but the ring gear did not.
Tom

[Supershafts]

Was the bearing spinning on the pin, sounds like it was, i have seen the sterlings do that a few times, as for the swelling, how could it swell with the ring gear on it, it would have to swell and expand the ring and the case and the bolts would show evidence of that.
Did the new ring press on or not? the ring gear isn't supposed to fall on

[scopx]

None of the bearing showed anything other than usual wear. There was a mixture of Timken and Koyo bearings within the unit. So it had been into.
The new ring did not even want to go on the carrier, so applied a little heat to it, and pressure required was greatly reduced. Did get it bolted down before cooled off,then waited until next day to torque.
I did go back with bearing preloads less than recommended , will see if it comes back to bite. Lucked out on setting pinion depth going in and did not have to repull.

Have driven tow unit about 300 miles since completion, and to my surprise, fuel mileage has almost doubled. EGT has dropped about 150 degrees from 450 to 300. (No load as taking it easy @ 60mph actual.) When I get few more miles, will shower down on it and see if values are actually correct.
Tom