Page 1 of 1
Rear Drive Pinion seal
Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2017 4:21 pm
by mogu83
Has anyone replaced the pinion seal on the rear drive ? Mine has a seep (not a leak) but I'd like to change it if it's not a big deal. Fly in the ointment is, a strange way of holding the seal in that requires a special tool that cost $145, so I need a way around that.
#3 is the seal
#1 is the 'cup' that requires the special tool
Did someone have the dealer do it ?
Thanks.
Re: Rear Drive Pinion seal
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 4:46 am
by Newportcycle
I have no experience with that seal. I also have no skill when it comes to building specialty tools, your mileage may vary, I'd buy the castle nut socket. You'll need a deep well socket and hold fast bar to get that pinion shaft nut off, but you knew that. Good luck, post pictures, we like pictures.
Re: Rear Drive Pinion seal
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 6:47 pm
by Newportcycle
Harry,
Any idea how your going to proceed with this?
Re: Rear Drive Pinion seal
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 7:47 pm
by mogu83
Actually just casting bread upon the water trying to find someone that actually took that seal out. Right now it's just a seep that I could live with, but if it's possible to do without removing that nut I'd give it a go. If you remove that nut things get really serious in a hurry. That cup is torqued down at 180 Nm so it would be tough getting out with a drift and a hammer.
Re: Rear Drive Pinion seal
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 4:29 am
by Newportcycle
I've seen a few Youtube video's of people removing that nut, it's not a job for a drift.
Re: Rear Drive Pinion seal
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:20 am
by mogu83
Not the nut - the cup. Sometimes you can catch the inside edge of the spline and tap it out. At least that's how it works on some 4WD front ends. Thing is the ones on trucks are kind of loose (maybe 50 Fp) but the MC one is 180Nm (130 Fp) and I'm sure it's a soft alloy.
I've looked all over the net for a video showing someone taking the pinion out, but they usually don't touch it when doing the big bearing or seals. The shop manual to remove the pinion gear starts with taking the nut off (something I want to avoid) but it seems to me that you could get at the seal without doing the nut and disturbing the compression ring under it.
Re: Rear Drive Pinion seal
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:22 pm
by Newportcycle
I knew what you meant, piece #1. 180Nm is more than I would try and remove with a drift, I'm to much of a klutz.
So what does the seal's (#3) inner surface ride on, the OD of Part #5? It appears to large to ride on any part of the Pinion shaft, if it is #5 it would seem the pinion shaft nut #4 needs to be removed?
Re: Rear Drive Pinion seal
Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 5:17 pm
by mogu83
Newportcycle suggested I contact Jim Bade (JimVonBaden.com) and get his opinion. Finally, someone that has actually worked in the area I'm interested in. Jim says the seal will not slide past the nut, it has to come off. Then starts the list of jigs and special tools. So I drop back to plan B, wait and watch.
Jim also said that most (reasonable) dealers will only charge one hour shop time if you bring the drive in and put it on the bench. A lot cheaper than buying the tools.
So if in the future someone runs into a pinion seal leak/seep here's the answer.