Pinion Bearing Preload

Fig. 6 Measuring Pinion Bearing Preload:

1. Install the collapsible spacer onto the drive pinion and install them in the carrier.
2. Place the front pinion bearing in position on the pinion. Hold the pinion fully forward and drive the pinion bearing over the pinion until seated.
3. Apply gear lubricant to the lip of the pinion oil seal and install the pinion oil seal into the carrier.
4. Install the companion flange on the pinion by tapping with a plastic hammer.
5. Install the pinion washer and nut. Before tightening the nut (when the pinion preload is zero), determine the oil seal drag by using a torque wrench.
6. Torque pinion nut to 145 ft. lbs. for B2000 and B2200 models or 94 ft. lbs. for RX-7 models; and check preload, Fig. 6. After preload has been checked, final tightening should be done very cautiously. The pinion nut should be further tightened only a little at a time and preload should be checked after each slight amount of tightening. Exceeding preload specifications will compress the collapsible spacer too far necessitating its replacement. The maximum tightening torque for the nut is 130 ft. lbs. for models except B2000 and B2200 models or 253 ft. lbs. for B2000 and B2200 models. If the specified preload is not obtained at the maximum torque, replace the collapsible spacer.
7. While observing the preceding step, carefully set the preload drag to 7.8 to 12.2 in. lbs. for RX-7 models; and 11.3 to 15.6 in. lbs. for B2000 and B2200 models plus the oil seal drag determined in Step 5. If preload is measured with spring scale at bolt hole of companion flange, the preload drag is 5.5 to 8.8 lbs. for RX-7 models; 7.3 to 10.1 lbs. for B2000 and B2200 models, Fig. 6.