Seals and Gaskets: Service and Repair

Drive Pinion Flange and Drive Pinion Seal





Special Tool(s)





Material
Removal

1. NOTE: The rear wheels and brake calipers must be removed to prevent brake drag during drive pinion bearing preload adjustment.

Remove the rear brake calipers.
2. Remove the driveshaft.





3. Install a Nm torque wrench on the pinion nut and record the rotational torque required to maintain rotation of the pinion through several revolutions.





4. CAUTION: After removal of the pinion nut, discard it. A new nut must be used for installation.

Using the special tool, hold the pinion flange while removing the pinion nut.





5. Mark the pinion flange in relation to the drive pinion stem to make sure alignment is correct during installation.





6. Using the special tool, remove the pinion flange.





7. Force up on the metal flange of the rear axle drive pinion seal. Install gripping pliers to the seal flange and strike with a hammer until the rear axle drive pinion seal is removed.

Installation
1. Lubricate the new pinion seal with clean premium long-life grease.





2. CAUTION: If the rear axle drive pinion seal becomes misaligned during installation, remove the rear axle drive pinion seal and replace it with a new seal.

Using the special tool, install a new rear axle drive pinion seal.
3. Lubricate the pinion flange splines with clean synthetic rear axle lubricant.





4. NOTE: Disregard the scribe marks if a new pinion flange is being installed.

Align the pinion flange with the drive pinion shaft.





5. With the pinion flange in place in the rear axle housing, use the special tool to install the pinion flange.





6. Position the new pinion nut.





7. CAUTION: Under no circumstances is the pinion nut to be backed off to reduce preload. If reduced preload is required, a new collapsible spacer and pinion nut must be installed.

Use the special tool to hold the pinion flange while tightening the pinion nut.
^ Tighten the pinion nut, rotating the pinion occasionally to make sure the cone and roller bearings are seating properly. Take frequent cone and roller bearing torque preload readings until the original recorded preload reading is obtained by rotating the pinion with a Nm torque wrench.
^ If the original recorded preload is lower than specifications, tighten to the appropriate specification for used bearings. If the preload is higher than specification, tighten the nut to the original reading as recorded. Refer to Torque Specifications.
8. Install the driveshaft.
9. Install the brake calipers.