Driveshaft/u-joint/rear end question?!??

It would be better to just get a hybrid u-joint. They are not uncommon.
If you take the yoke off the diff you will mess up the pinion preload and probably the pinion seal. The example that Rockatansky gave above is a 1310-1330. this is a u-joint that is a 1310 on one plane of the "cross" and a 1330 on the other. That may not be the correct example for your car, but all you need to do is find out which u-joints you have already. these are NOT expensive. Re-building your differential because the pinion was leaking and ran dry or the preload was too tight or loose and ate the bearings is a real possibility. If you haven't taken the nut/yoke off the pinion, DON'T! You don't need to, and it's more trouble than it's worth. If you have a driveshaft that engages the trans yoke properly, it's no big deal to use one hybrid joint. (just my 2 cents)

randy is totally right!!!  i've gotten lucky sometimes, sometimes not so good!, but since you did and you  said you messed up the seal, you might as well put in a new seal then put the yoke back on, it's kid of a matter of feel as far as retightening, the torque specs are for new bearings and preload, so don't use them, i would guess about maybe 30 to 50 foot lbs at the most, you just want the nut just tight enough.


Edited by californiajohnny - 23-February-2014 at 12:37PM

Well, do not tap/bang/hammer/pry/beat against/on the end of the pinion or yoke. The "right" thing to do would be use a puller to remove the yoke, replace the seal and try to get the yoke on and nut tight. Without pulling the pumpkin, I don't know how to get preload right. Cross your fingers. Say your prayers. Maybe sacrifice a Chrysler or something...

Big Bird wrote: Without pulling the pumpkin, I don't know how to get preload right

the guys that do it all day every day use their big honkin 1/2" impact on the pinion nut & lightly feel the preload as the hammer pounds away on it. gotta figure an existing assy with miles on it can stand another couple thou of crush to get back to specified preload?

I used this beauty to set up my manual steering box, an inch/pound beam style from an online bicycle outfit. but then you'd have to pull the pinion bearing housing out of the carrier to get a reading on just the pinion bearings





Edited by Rockatansky - 23-February-2014 at 2:31PM

didn't we just go through all this stuff???^^^ or do you mean the large round gasket between the 3rd member and the diff housing?

oh you mean the smaller 5 bolt gasket? never had one of those apart! (you might be ok) IDK

1 bolt????   the nut holding the yoke on? or the gasket between the  small housing and the 3rd member housing (with the visor over the yoke part?) that part has  like 5 bolts around it

there is a seal in there, the outer edge of the yoke rides on the inside lip of the seal

pinion shaft seal, preload-- that's the trick, impact the nut off, pull the yoke remove the seal (pressed in ***(before you destroy the seal, wipe it off good , write down any and all #'s molded into the rubber, look good they are small, save that for future reference! like ordering it !!) remove seal , tap in new one , tricky to get started, work around evenly and gently till its all the way in equally , then slide yoke back on, put nut and washer back on, snug nut back up (TRICKY PART!!!) i do it with my impact gun but it's more of  a "feel" it's impossible to describe! if you know and trust someone local that does this it may be worth it to have them do it and pay them a few bucks, especially since it it in the back of your truck. just my 2 cents

I saw some videos, and when they replaced it, they just marked everything and put everything back the in exact same place, and they said it should be fine if it takes 10-30 lbs-ft of torque to turn it.

If you're going that route, "sneak up" on the torque on the yoke bolt and check, check, check your rotational torque every little bit. If you go to far, it may affect your gear pattern as well as pinion bearings.

I'll try that, and that's how much torque it takes to turn the wheels/axels right? The 10-30?

Thanks, I'm going to buy some degreaser today and fluid, what do you guys recommend? Lucas? And how full do I fill it?

Thanks

did you not MEASURE the spring perch centers?

or drum to drum?