Drive Pinion Installation

1. Install bearing races, and bearing race shims if equipped, in housing as outlined in "Pinion Depth, Adjust."
2. Install selected depth adjusting shim on pinion.
3. Press rear bearing onto pinion using suitable spacer to ensure bearing is fully seated.
4. Install new collapsible spacer on pinion, lubricate pinion bearings, then insert pinion assembly into housing.

Fig. 20 Companion Flange & Front Pinion Bearing Installation:

5. Install front pinion bearing, companion flange and forcing tool on pinion. Use tool Nos. C-3718 on 8 3/8 inch ring gear, C-496 on 9 1/4 inch ring gear, or equivalents.
6. Hold companion flange and tighten nut on forcing tool to seat front bearing on pinion shaft. Care must be taken not to collapse spacer when seating front bearing on pinion shaft. Tighten tool only until endplay has been eliminated.
7. Remove forcing tool and companion flange, then install new pinion seal using suitable driver.
8. Lubricate lips of pinion seal, then reinstall companion flange using forcing tool as outlined in steps 5 and 6.
9. Remove forcing screw, then install washer and new pinion nut.
10. Hold companion flange and torque pinion nut to 210 ft. lbs., then check bearing preload using suitable torque wrench. Bearing preload must be within specifications with pinion nut torqued to a minimum of 210 ft. lbs. If bearing preload is greater than specified at minimum torque specification, or if preload is not even through full rotation, recheck pinion installation, replace collapsible spacer and repeat adjustment.
11. If bearing preload is less than specified, continue tightening nut in small increments, checking preload after each adjustment. If specified preload is exceeded, spacer will be collapsed too far to be reused. Spacer must be replaced and adjustment procedure must be repeated. Do not loosen pinion nut to reduce preload.