Pinion Seals

[rharrell]

I have a leaky pinion seal on my Ford 9". Do I have to pull the axles out to pull the 3rd member and change the seal, or can I just unbolt the housing from the 3rd member and replacing the seal?

 

[JWMcCrary]

Is it the pinion seal or is it leaking from the pinion support? pinion seal just remove the yoke and change the seal, retorque the yoke. pinion support requires an o-ring, either way it can be done without removing the 3rd member or axles.

 

[rharrell]

I think it is leaking where the support bolts into the 3rd member. I think there are 4 bolts holding it on. So if I remove the driveshaft and yoke, I can just pull this off and replace a gasket or a seal?

 

[JWMcCrary]

yes. There is not a gasket there, only an O-ring. Should be some shims between the pinion support and the housing, you want to make sure you put those back. You should be able to get the o-ring at any parts store.

 

[garberz]

You can pull the yoke and replace the pinion seal and the o-ring. But you'll need to set the preload of the pinion bearings. Once you remove the yoke, you'll need to replace the crush sleeve or you can lengthen it back by tapping on the bulge with a hammer. When you put it back together, you should tighten the pinion nut till there is 20-24 in.lbs. of drag on the pinion shaft. This may take a few tries to get the preload right. It's much like setting the front wheel bearings up, so if you take it apart, replace the pinion seal.

 

[Steve]

You can pull the yoke and replace the pinion seal and the o-ring. But you'll need to set the preload of the pinion bearings. Once you remove the yoke, you'll need to replace the crush sleeve or you can lengthen it back by tapping on the bulge with a hammer. When you put it back together, you should tighten the pinion nut till there is 20-24 in.lbs. of drag on the pinion shaft. This may take a few tries to get the preload right. It's much like setting the front wheel bearings up, so if you take it apart, replace the pinion seal.

1. You don't have to do all that to replace the pinion seal. Mark the pinion nut and pinion, count the number of turns it takes to take the nut off, replace the pinion seal and put the nut back on exactly as it came off.

2. You can't set pinion preload with the carrier/ring gear in the housing. You have to remove the axle shafts and carrier to set pinion preload.