Rear Drive Axle/Differential - Ford 8.8 Inch Ring Gear High Torque

Drive Pinion Flange and Drive Pinion Seal

Special Tool(s):

Material:

Removal
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to Maintenance/Service and Repair.

2. NOTE: The rear wheels and brake drums must be removed to prevent brake drag during drive pinion bearing preload adjustment.

Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
3. Remove the rear brake drums.





4. Mark the driveshaft flange and pinion flange for correct alignment during installation.





5. Remove the 4 driveshaft bolts.





6. CAUTION: The driveshaft centering socket yoke fits tightly on the rear axle pinion flange pilot. Never hammer on the driveshaft or any of its components to disconnect the yoke from the flange. Pry only in the area shown with a suitable tool to disconnect the yoke from the flange.

Using a suitable tool as shown, disconnect the driveshaft centering socket yoke from the rear axle pinion flange.
^ Position the driveshaft aside.





7. Install a Nm (inch lb) torque wrench on the pinion nut and record the torque required to maintain rotation of the pinion through several revolutions.





8. CAUTION: After removal of the pinion nut, discard it. A new nut must be used for installation.

Using the special tool, hold the pinion flange and remove the pinion nut.





9. Mark the pinion flange in relation to the drive pinion stem to make sure of correct alignment during installation.





10. Using the special tool, remove the pinion flange.





11. Force up on the metal flange of the rear axle drive pinion seal. Install gripping pliers and strike with a hammer until the rear axle pinion seal is removed.





Installation
1. Lubricate the new rear axle drive pinion seal with lubricant.
2. Using the special tool, install the rear axle drive pinion seal.





3. Lubricate the pinion flange splines with lubricant.

4. NOTE: Disregard the scribe marks if a new pinion flange is being installed.

Align the pinion flange with the drive pinion shaft.





5. With the drive pinion in place in the rear axle housing, install the pinion flange using the special tool.





6. Position the new pinion nut.





7. CAUTION: Under no circumstances is the pinion nut to be backed off to reduce preload. If reduced preload is required, a new collapsible spacer and pinion nut must be installed.

CAUTION: Remove the special tool while taking preload readings with the Nm (inch lb) torque wrench.

Using the special tool hold the pinion flange, tighten the pinion nut.
^ Rotate the pinion occasionally to make sure the cone and roller bearings are seating correctly.
^ Install a Nm (inch lb) torque wrench on the pinion nut.
^ Rotating the pinion through several revolutions, take frequent cone and roller bearing torque preload readings until the original recorded preload reading is obtained.
^ If the original recorded preload is lower than specifications, tighten to the appropriate specifications for used bearings. If the preload is higher than specification, tighten the nut to the original reading as recorded.





8. Position the rear driveshaft and align the marks on the pinion flange.





9. CAUTION: The driveshaft centering socket yoke fits tightly on the rear axle pinion flange pilot. To make sure that the yoke seats squarely on the flange, tighten the bolts evenly in a cross pattern.

Install the bolts.
^ Tighten to 112 Nm (83 ft. lbs.)





10. Install the rear brake drums.