Rear Axle - 8 1/4

REMOVAL
1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. Mark the universal joint, pinion yoke and pinion shaft for installation reference.
3. Remove propeller shaft from pinion yoke.
4. Remove the wheel and tire assemblies.
5. Remove the brake drums (Refer to BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL).
6. Rotate the pinion yoke three or four times.
7. Measure the amount of torque necessary to rotate the pinion gear with an inch pound torque wrench. Record the torque reading for installation reference.
8. Hold the yoke with Wrench 6719 and remove the pinion nut and washer





9. Remove the yoke with Remover C-452 (Fig. 21).
10. Remove pinion seal with a pry tool or slide hammer mounted screw.

INSTALLATION
1. Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the lip of pinion seal.

NOTE: The outer perimeter of the seal is pre-coated with a special sealant. An additional application of sealant is not required.





2. Install the new pinion seal (Fig. 22) with Installer C-4076-A and Handle C-4736.
3. Install pinion yoke on the shaft with the reference marks aligned.
4. Seat yoke on pinion shaft with Installer C-3718 and Holder 6719A.
5. Remove the tools and install the pinion yoke washer. The convex side of the washer must face outward.





6. Using yoke Holder 6719A tighten shaft nut to 285 Nm (210 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 23). Rotate the pinion several revolutions to ensure the bearing rollers are seated.





7. Rotate the pinion using an inch pound torque wrench. Rotating torque should be equal to the reading recorded during removal, plus an additional 0.56 Nm (5 inch lbs.) (Fig. 24).

CAUTION: Never loosen pinion nut to decrease pinion gear bearing rotating torque and never exceed specified preload torque. If preload torque is exceeded a new collapsible spacer must be installed.

8. If the rotating torque is low, use Holder 6719A (Fig. 23) and tighten the pinion nut in 6.8 Nm (5 ft. lbs.) increments until proper rotating torque is achieved.

NOTE: The bearing rotating torque should be constant during a complete revolution of the pinion. If the rotating torque varies, this indicates a binding condition.

9. The seal replacement is unacceptable if the final pinion nut torque is less than 285 Nm (210 ft. lbs.).
10. Install the propeller shaft with the installation reference marks aligned.
11. Install the brake drums (Refer to BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL).
12. Check the differential housing lubricant level.
13. Install wheel and tire assemblies and lower the vehicle.