So how do you put it all
back together? Well, you start with a new seal, then
install the flange, attach the Goodparts' parts and
shove it all back up into place! Sounds simple but these
things never are. Installing the new seal was pretty
simple.....remove the old one and install the new one.
Simple if you've done it before, but this is all new
territory for me.
Sealer Puller
hooked in and then the seal pops loose!
New seal in place
Crude 2"x4" block
to hammer in new seal
New seal is
pounded in nice and flush
All
that's left now is to install the flange and pinion
nut.
Rick Patton suggested using Ultra Black on the
last 1/2" of the flange splines as a seal against
leakage. Then once the flange is in place, to spread
some more around the top of the pinion where it
means the flange. That way the pinion nut will
squish it all down and finish off a new tight
leak-proof seal.
Seal Puller & Old
Seal
Spread some
Ultra Black on splines for about 1/2"
Before
sliding the flange over the pinion, I coated the
outside with a little lithium grease to make sure it
slide past the new seal without binding. The flange
should be lightly hammered home until it bottoms
out. Then I uses some more Ultra Black to seal it
all from any leaks.
Ultra Black
spread around pinion
Pinion nut
tightened down so marks line up.
The
picture, above right, shows the pinion nut tightened
down with the punch marks lined up and the Ultra
Black squished out. I wish I could say that
tightening down the pinion nut was easy but, in
truth, it was almost comical. The nut tightens
easily up until that last 1/4 turn needed to
properly set it to the original pre-load
point....i.e. the two punch marks. That last 1/4
turn was an exercise in frustration because turning
the pinion nut, turns the axles and no amount of
"manly" strength will keep it all from turning. I
tried a variety of attempts to lock the axles in
place but nothing worked. I finally gave up on
trying to keep the axles from turning and decided
to focus on the flange itself. That worked so easily
that I had to laugh at myself for not thinking of it
sooner.
It took all 155
lbs on me standing on the diff housing to
turn the pinion nut 1/4 turn!