Crush sleeve eliminator: 14 bolt FF

[Redfred]

I decided to ditch the crush sleeve and picked up the crush sleeve eliminator kit from Yukon gear. I was browsing over the Billavista 14 bolt gear set up article in which the crush sleeve is used and so then I started to process the differences in my mind with setting up the pinion bearing preload using the eliminator kit.

Although I know there is usually more than one method to do things, I read where he recommended to have the seal in place in the pinion bearing housing when preload is being checked. Basically, the whole pinion assembly is assembled when doing it like that. So then I realized the crush sleeve may have its benefits over the eliminator as far as the installation goes (assuming it doesn't get crushed too much, requiring the proses to start over from scratch with a new crush sleeve).

Reason I thought that is because every time a shim from the kit needs to be added or removed to get to the correct pinion bearing preload spec (25-35 ft. Lb with new bearings), you'll have to remove the seal and outer pinion bearing which creates the possibility of messing up the new seal and/or outer bearing. So I was thinking that in order to save headaches, 1- I wouldn't install the oil seal until after I got preload set (hopefully that won't cause over preload from the resistance of the seal not being present) and 2- I guess I'll get the old outer pinion bearing and ream it out so it can slide on and off the pinion shaft while I'm adding/removing shims then press the new bearing on after I get the shim count where it has to be. Any experience or advise that anyone can offer? I just don't want to be taking a new seal and outer bearing on and off. I'm not sure how to get a close starting point with the preload shims besides measuring the old crush sleeve even though I have all new bearings and pinion.

 

[sweetk30]

can tell you a good seal from most places add's 2-3 inch pounds of drag .

so use this to help pin point the preload you need with no seal .

and a setup bearing with the bore modified is great but can give little diffrences with the bearing you install last for real . so always recheck .

I have done a few eliminators on 12 bolt / corvette rear / and I will say slow and steady wins the race and it will be good.

 

[blazinzuk]

I don't use setups with crush sleeve eliminators. Remember it's inch lbs not ft lbs.

I have a brass hammer I use to push the pinion out of the slight press fit with the upper pinion bearing.

I always set the preload as close to the middle of the tolerance as possible. I also don't do it with the seal in. As 99.9% of guys who set up gears don't.

There are certain cases where this can and will change but in a 14 bolt just not the case

 

[blazinzuk]

Also I use a normal nut to set the preload. Not the old nut. Then use the new nut with loctite and recheck. If you messed it up with everything in place a new pinion nut and seal are cheap.

Don't over think it. 14 bolt is fun to setup and has a large swing of good numbers

 

[Redfred]

can tell you a good seal from most places add's 2-3 inch pounds of drag .

so use this to help pin point the preload you need with no seal .

and a setup bearing with the bore modified is great but can give little diffrences with the bearing you install last for real . so always recheck .

I have done a few eliminators on 12 bolt / corvette rear / and I will say slow and steady wins the race and it will be good.

Thanks for that spec on the seal's rolling resistance. That's very useful because I know I would be much more likely to ruin it than the outer bearing with repeated r&r.

 

[Redfred]

Also I use a normal nut to set the preload. Not the old nut. Then use the new nut with loctite and recheck. If you messed it up with everything in place a new pinion nut and seal are cheap.

Don't over think it. 14 bolt is fun to setup and has a large swing of good numbers

Again, very useful and comforting info about the bearing. Guess I over looked the fact that the spec is in inch pounds so I should be able to safely press it off the pinion shaft without damage. As SweetK30 pointed out, modifying the old bearing as a set up bearing could give a different spec than the new one and that crossed my mind so I wasn't completely satisfied with that method anyway. I bought a cheap 12 ton press from Summit so that should help also with just going with the new bearing during set up. All I need now is to find the correct diameter pipe to use to press it on with.

I bought two new Yukon pinion nuts as you mentioned. I was going to use the old one for set up but had already read threads advising against it. I feel pretty good about it because as you mentioned, the 14 bolt FF is a pretty straight forward job with mechanical competence which I believe I have. The Billavista articles are a great resource and is really where I initially got the confidence to do it myself.