Changing a pinion seal

[littlejohn44]

I am trying to change a pinion seal on a 88 dak. I cannot get the damn nut off. I went as far as pulling the bed off so I could put a cheater on it. It spins the wheels, I m going righty tighty, lefty loosey. I got 3 inch chocks under the rear wheels, it keeps driving up on them. Does anyone have any tips? I got it soaking in pentrating oil right now? I got a little fuel leak but if I have to pull the tank to put heat on it I will. PLEASE HELP.

[Zac]

I would just use an impact gun. Thats what i have used the couple times ive had to remove a yoke. If you dont have one maybe borrow from someone?

[littlejohn44]

I ended up taking it somewhere. They took a 18 inch pipewrench to hold the yoke still so the bouncing had something hard to hit agaist. Then they had to take a chisel gun to knock the yoke loose.Finallly changed. Thanks

[70Cuda383]

Too bad I didn't see this sooner. those pinion nuts are a locking nut, and get some big torque on them. added to the fact that its exposed to weather and rusts...it's not going to budge!

as you found out, the ONLY way to get them off, is to use a giant ass pipe wrench on the yoke, and a giant breaker bar on the nut.

That hassle, plus the fact that when you put it all back together, you need to make sure to get the pre-load on the bearings right, without over-crushing the crush sleeve, I think I'd rather just take it somewhere...it's like a $4 seal right? should take a shop that knows what they are doing about an hour to do the whole thing, so you figure maybe $100 in labor? shouldn't be more than $110 out the door for a pinion seal change

[littlejohn44]

I didnt think it would be that hard. I took a 8 3/4 apart with an electric impact. I hope he got the preload right also.It was a junkyard mechanic 25$ lol .If it can just last a couple of months until I get the 8 3/4 done.

[70Cuda383]

you're putting in an 8.75? then why worry about the pinion seal? just keep putting oil in it until you're done with the axle!

[littlejohn44]

It was leaking about a pint every 20 miles. The underside of my bed, my frame rails and specially my bumper was coated about a 1/8 thick.Plus I cant stand the smell , it was awful.