Pinion nut torque versus bearing preload

[Curious Hound]

So you really couldnt “properly” replace a pinion seal without taking it all apart, right? I did try that once, didnt have a differential failure but new seal did leak still afterwards.
I had marked the nut so it would be in the same spot when I put it back together but couldn’t really check rolling torque with the ring gear & carrier still in mesh with the pinion.
It sure seems like ford differentials have excessive backlash, Im sure its “in-spec” but wow, the amount you can turn the yoke with the ring gear stationary sure seems like too much.

Correct. The technically absolute correct way to do it would involve replacing the crush sleeve, pulling the axle shafts clear of the carrier and performing the torque sequence to crush the new sleeve and video
Attain proper preload.

However, if I was very positively sure my pinion bearings were good, I would probably do what you did. The problem is that often the seal is going bad because the bearings are going bad and allowing too much play. That also the likely reason why you thought the backlash was excessive.

 

[broncc]

Here's how I set up mine. You're supposed to do it without the differential installed.

I didn't have much luck with it and the pinion got a little loose after a thousand miles. I rattled it tighter with the impact and never had an issue again.

 

[Norbert]

In my case....
Due to a noisy differential I disassembly the entire differential just to find a broken teeth in the ring and i buy a new ring and pinion and no crush sleeve in the box,not included. I have doubt about the crush sleeve to use because can't find any specification so i tried to find one and find a replacement at Advance auto that said "exact fit" for my Ranger a Dorman brand and a friend of mine also bring me a new one,a Ford original part, but he is not secure if works for my Ranger so i measure the 3 and get this:

 

[19Walt93]

In my case....
Due to a noisy differential I disassembly the entire differential just to find a broken teeth in the ring and i buy a new ring and pinion and no crush sleeve in the box,not included. I have doubt about the crush sleeve to use because can't find any specification so i tried to find one and find a replacement at Advance auto that said "exact fit" for my Ranger a Dorman brand and a friend of mine also bring me a new one,a Ford original part, but he is not secure if works for my Ranger so i measure the 3 and get this:

A new crush sleeve should come in the bearing kit, along with a pinion seal.

 

[19Walt93]

Here's how I set up mine. You're supposed to do it without the differential installed.

View attachment 114428 View attachment 114429

I didn't have much luck with it and the pinion got a little loose after a thousand miles. I rattled it tighter with the impact and never had an issue again.

I check the rotaing torque by feel. If the differential is assembled I can get enough pinion rotation to be able to judge it. I suppose having built rear ends since the 70's gives me an advantage in that regard. I was taught that a too tight bearing will almost never fail but a too loose bearing will always fail. Makes sense considering the stress when you accelerate.

 

[pjtoledo]

In my case....
Due to a noisy differential I disassembly the entire differential just to find a broken teeth in the ring and i buy a new ring and pinion and no crush sleeve in the box,not included. I have doubt about the crush sleeve to use because can't find any specification so i tried to find one and find a replacement at Advance auto that said "exact fit" for my Ranger a Dorman brand and a friend of mine also bring me a new one,a Ford original part, but he is not secure if works for my Ranger so i measure the 3 and get this:

when either of the 2 new crush sleeves get installed and crushed they will look exactly like the used crushed one.
as long as the inner diameter is the same they are good.

 

[Norbert]

when either of the 2 new crush sleeves get installed and crushed they will look exactly like the used crushed one.
as long as the inner diameter is the same they are good.

Ok,thanks

 

[Norbert]

Well, i found that in my case according with Ford the preload is 15 - 30