I know this is an old thread, but i recently have encountered this problem.
In my case however the bearing has broken and chunks have come out luckly not damaging anything in its path.
The biggest problem i'm having however is actually getting the pinion gear out of the pumkin.
I know some tools have been posted to remove the bearings from the pinion itself but is there any methods anyone can recommend for getting the pinion out ? Im considering asking a shop to take it out but then again i know they will ask probably 40-50 maybe more just to press it out.