This is a message of gratitude to the members who posted so many solutions to the problems involved when replacing the front & rear diff pinion seals, without having to remove the crush sleeves, bearings etc.
Special thanks to Robbie who went into some real fine detail about preload backlash, torque, etc. plus some professional experience regarding 'FEEL'.
Also Greg g, who answered my initial post on Lcool. (I've tried to find the Forum on Lcool lately, but failed.)
My initial post was about a year ago when the leaks from both pinion seals was only slight.
As I was quite busy travelling around, I decided to put the job off until just recently when the leaking became bad.
To tell the truth, I was also slightly fearful and intimidated. I have done all the mechanical work on my truck since new, but felt that this job might be a bit of a mission & too technical, as the FSM made it look tricky.
Anyway, I tackled the job last weekend & following all the excellent advice, found the job reasonably easy!
You are so right about 'feel' Robbie.
I was very patient.
After disconnecting the prop shaft, I spent about 10 minutes just feeling the backlash friction as well as making sure there was no play up or down or any roughness.
I took the pinion nut back to where it was,plus about 1/16" further than my mark and everything felt absolutely perfect. The backlash was nice and smooth and felt about the same as before---------definitely not too tight.
I used factory seals and also a light coat of 'Blue Silicone Gasket Maker' on the outside of the seal as well as the inside of the flange.
Everything is now bone-dry & hopefully will stay that way.
Thanks a million Robbie for taking the time to post all that excellent advice, and thanks too Greg g wherever you may be.
A grateful old bushpig
'94 HDJ80 1HD-T
Special thanks to Robbie who went into some real fine detail about preload backlash, torque, etc. plus some professional experience regarding 'FEEL'.
Also Greg g, who answered my initial post on Lcool. (I've tried to find the Forum on Lcool lately, but failed.)
My initial post was about a year ago when the leaks from both pinion seals was only slight.
As I was quite busy travelling around, I decided to put the job off until just recently when the leaking became bad.
To tell the truth, I was also slightly fearful and intimidated. I have done all the mechanical work on my truck since new, but felt that this job might be a bit of a mission & too technical, as the FSM made it look tricky.
Anyway, I tackled the job last weekend & following all the excellent advice, found the job reasonably easy!
You are so right about 'feel' Robbie.
I was very patient.
After disconnecting the prop shaft, I spent about 10 minutes just feeling the backlash friction as well as making sure there was no play up or down or any roughness.
I took the pinion nut back to where it was,plus about 1/16" further than my mark and everything felt absolutely perfect. The backlash was nice and smooth and felt about the same as before---------definitely not too tight.
I used factory seals and also a light coat of 'Blue Silicone Gasket Maker' on the outside of the seal as well as the inside of the flange.
Everything is now bone-dry & hopefully will stay that way.
Thanks a million Robbie for taking the time to post all that excellent advice, and thanks too Greg g wherever you may be.
A grateful old bushpig
'94 HDJ80 1HD-T
