14 ff pinion seal bearing preload Q

[86Cucvbeater]

Hey I was reading old posts and saw one that said you can mess up the bearing preload when changing out the pinion seal if you dont use a new crush sleeve and nut. I changed my seal about a year ago and didn't know this. Is there some way to tell if my rear is screwed up or going to be? I used the same old crush sleeve and pinion nut.. just used a breaker bar and locktight for assembly.

 

[86Cucvbeater]

ttt

 

[sandawgk5]

Pull the pinion support, put it in a vice, use an inch/lbs torque wrench and check the running torque of the pinion. For new bearings it is between 25-35 in/lbs for used bearings I want to say it is 5-15 in/lbs. If it has been a year and you have no problems you are prolly good. If you only used a breaker bar unless you really put some ass into it you prolly did not change the preload. I just set up my 14FF and I had a 3/4 drive ratchet with a 3 foot cheater bar and it still kicked my ass. I went too far and I got the pleasure of doing it twice.


Ira

 

[78Suburban]

My leaky rearend

Would this be a pinion seal? I think I posted up in the past, but never got a definite answer. What other seals would cause this? I was under my truck working on it yesterday and noticed that it had gotten alot worse than when I took this picture.
Where can I buy the seal(s)? How in the world to I learn to properly change it/them? what tools are necessary?
I'm really concerned my 14ff is gonna be toast if I don't firgure this thing out.
Thanks,
James

 

[mouse]

Yeah thats the pinion seal. It hides behind the steel cover.

 

[78Suburban]

Yeah thats the pinion seal. It hides behind the steel cover.

so how hard is it to change? what tools/ skills are involved?
thanks,
James