Pinion Seal Help ... (Yes i read the other threads)

[TurboBlue]

Ok, so like to title says, i've searched and read the procedure for replacing the rear pinion seal, and i entirely understand it. My only problem is that i can not get my hands on an Inch lb deflecting beam type torque wrench to measure the preload. The only one i found starts at 25 inch lbs, and that is not low enough to measure it.

So I am at the point almost of just taking it off, putting a seal in, and torquing the nut to spec, and feeling with my hand the resistance...Not sure its really a good idea, but right now, its kind of my only option? The car is on a lift with the driveshaft out, so i really just want to get this thing done now.

Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[91 Turbo Mitsu]

I have installed hundreds of pinion seals and never used an inch pound torque wrench. Just snug the nut and use some common sense and feel the tension on the yoke. You can feel what 15 inch pounds(which is average torque) feels like.Just be carefull because if you over torque your screwed. As I said just keep tightening it until all the side to side play is gone and spin the yoke as you do it to feel the resistance. Good luck and I hope I have helped you. Travis

 

[TurboBlue]

yeah, thanks very much for the response.

I was going to do it just like you said, i just wasnt exactly sure how crucial the torque was yanno? I've read that some people never worried about it, and others say its a must, we'll just go for it i guess, thats the worst that could happen? heh.

once again, thanks for the response...

 

[TurboAnything]

Just mark the shaft and nut with whiteout and retighten to that mark.

 

[Defiant]

Or, a string and a fishing scale with a 1', or 6" wrench.

 

[TurboBlue]

Or, a string and a fishing scale with a 1', or 6" wrench.

I may look like an idiot...but can you explain that one a little better?

 

[Rob10_99]

Defiants telling you to do the ghettofabulous oldschool broke DIY way, which works!

fishing scales, you hook the fishmouth on that hook, hold it up by the other side of the scale, and it says how much it weighs, from how much the spring compresses.
same principle, just using it on a wrench instead.

12" reads the same,
6" reads double what the actual in/ft are,

get it?

 

[TurboBlue]

Ok, so i did the pinion seal...hopefully i did it right. I just kind of went by feel from before to after, i didnt have any other method. I ended up tightening the companion nut to 130 ft/lbs. The flange would just give a little bit before the tires started moving. But i was also testing it with the diff empty. I figured this was ok, since pinion gears and ring gears need to have some space between them for the oil to go, no?

Any opinions would be appreciated, allthough it might be too late now. Thanks again