Pinion Flange: Service and Repair
Drive Pinion Flange and Drive Pinion Seal
Special Tools
Material
Premium Long Life Grease XG-1-C ESA-M1C75-B
Threadlock and Sealer EOAZ-19554-AA WSK-M2G351-A5 (type II)
Silicone Brake Caliper Grease & Dielectric Compound ESE-M1C171-A
Removal
1. Position vehicle on hoist.
2. Remove the rear wheel and tire assemblies.
3. CAUTION: Remove the rear brake calipers to prevent drag during the drive pinion bearing preload adjustment.
CAUTION: Do not remove the guide pins or guide pin boots unless a problem is suspected. The guide pins are meant to be sealed for life and are not repairable. Use brake caliper grease for re-lubing the caliper slide pins. Other greases can swell the guide pin boots, resulting in contamination and accelerated corrosion and wear of the caliper slide pin mechanism.
CAUTION: Do not allow the calipers to hang from the brake hoses. Support the caliper assembly with a length of mechanic's wire.
Remove the rear disc brake caliper assembly.
1. Remove the caliper bolts.
2. Using a disc brake pad spreader, spread the disc brake pads to allow caliper removal.
4. CAUTION: Index-mark the driveshaft flange and rear axle pinion flange for correct alignment during installation.
Remove the four bolts.
5. CAUTION: The driveshaft flange fits tightly on the rear axle pinion flange pilot. Never hammer on the driveshaft or any of its components to disconnect the driveshaft flange from the pinion flange. Pry only in the area shown, with a suitable tool, to disconnect the driveshaft flange from the pinion flange.
Using a suitable tool as shown, disconnect the driveshaft flange from the rear axle flange, and position and secure the driveshaft aside.
6 Install a Nm (inch-pound) torque wrench on the nut and record the torque necessary to maintain rotation of the pinion through several revolutions.
7. CAUTION: Discard the nut after removing it. Install a new nut during installation.
Use the special tool to hold the pinion flange while removing the nut.
8. Index-mark the pinion flange and the drive pinion stem for correct alignment during installation.
9. Using the special tool, remove the pinion flange.
10. Using the special tools, remove and discard the rear axle drive pinion seal.
Installation
1. Coat the new rear axle drive pinion seal lips with long life grease.
2. CAUTION: Installation without the correct tool can result in early seal failure.
CAUTION: If the rear axle drive pinion seal becomes misaligned during installation, remove the seal and install a new seal.
Using the special tool, install the rear axle drive pinion seal.
3. Inspect the rear axle pinion flange seal journal for rust, nicks and scratches prior to installing the flange. Polish the seal journal with fine crocus cloth, if necessary.
4. NOTE: Disregard the index marks if installing a new pinion flange.
Position the pinion flange.
5. Using the special tool, install the pinion flange.
6. CAUTION: Do not, under any circumstance, loosen the nut to reduce preload. If it is necessary to reduce preload, install a new collapsible spacer and nut.
CAUTION: Remove the special tool while taking preload readings with the Nm (inch- pound) torque wrench.
Use the special tool to hold the pinion flange while tightening the nut.
- Rotate the pinion occasionally to make sure the differential pinion bearings seat correctly. Take frequent differential pinion bearing preload readings by rotating the pinion with a Nm (inch- pound) torque wrench.
- If the preload recorded prior to disassembly is lower than the specification for used bearings, tighten the nut to specification. If the preload recorded prior to disassembly is higher than the specification for used bearings, tighten the nut to the original reading as recorded.
- Refer to torque specifications for used pinion bearings in the Specifications portion of this section.
7. NOTE: Align the index marks.
Install the four driveshaft flange to pinion flange bolts.
8. CAUTION: The driveshaft centering socket yoke fits tightly on the rear axle pinion flange pilot. To make sure that the yoke seats squarely on the flange, tighten the bolts evenly in a cross pattern as shown.
CAUTION: If new bolts to retain the driveshaft to the axle flange are not available, coat the threads of the original bolts with threadlock and sealer.
Tighten to specification.
9. CAUTION: To prevent interference with the rear disc brake caliper operation, install only the correct caliper bolt.
NOTE: Make sure the stainless steel shoe slippers are correctly positioned. Install new slippers if worn or damaged.
NOTE: Use the disc brake pad spreader to spread pads for reassembly. Install the rear disc brake caliper.
10. Install the rear wheel and tire assemblies.
11. Lower the vehicle.
12. Apply the brake pedal to make sure of rear disc brake caliper piston position.