Thread: 12 bolt rear seal help guys

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Have to replace my pinion seal and not sure if preload of the nut is an issue. Some tell me to measure how fare the nut is on the shaft, others say count the turns of the nut while removing, still more say its nothing to even worry about?? Help me here please guys.

For giggles and grins.....specs on most 8.5's and most every GM pinion is 25 inch pounds. Using a sweeping hand torgue wrench, not the "click" style. Axles will create extra drag and make the numbers go higher. If you go too tight, you will get a "whine" and mess up the bearings (pinions) and possbly the mesh on the pinion to ring gear. If you are fortunate to have a buddy that is good at these things, by him his twelve pack and have him help you set it up before the twelve pack dissappears too quickly. Double check for grooves on the yoke and possible pinion bearing wear that could be causing the seal to leak.

I have one of the old school non click type torque wrench, so tackling it myself is cake now with your advice. The angle of is something else worn out to cause it to have leaked is something I never gave a thought to. Now that you mention it in 2005 when I took the driveshaft and trans yoke into have it balanced the guy at the shop showed me the deep grove in that yoke. Heck they both have spun the same rpm in they're 38 years of life, so likely that is worn in the rear as well.

On that 12 bolt ,it would only take about 20 minutes to remove the rear cover ,pull the carrier pin ,then c- clips,then slide both axles out ,so you officially set the pre load,plus with the back cover off you could spray a couple cans of brake clean in there ,to remove any metal particles and inspect the rest of the rear end..........Removing the back cover ,pin,c-clips and axle is real easy and you are not changing any "settings" just re-install the axles ,drop the c-clips in place ,the re-install the pin.....easy as can be!!!!!Then you will have the correct pre-load on the pinion.
I am sure one of the members can help walk you thru that part also if you wanted or I could help too.
Theres bound to be some wear and metal particles back there .....will not hurt to check......