My rear pinion seal is leaking, but the bearing still seams tight (no up & down movement when I push on the pinion). So I was thinking of marking the pinion nut & counting the threads & replacing the seal & putting it all back together exactly how it was. Rather than doing the whole crush sleeve thing, would this be ok? Oh, its on a 1999 Ram 2500 4x4, Dana 80?
Thanks
Doug

 

You need a new nut I know that for sure. Also at some point between 98 and 2000 they changes the yoke so you can't get a normal socket in there you need a thing all. There is procedure outlined in the manual(haynes) about measure the amount of torque need to spin it, and make sure that you get back to that when you reinstall the nut.

 

Procedure would be: rear tires off ground and dirveshaft removed. Measure rotating torque of pnion with dial torque wrench. Say it is 70 in lbs. Remove pinion nut and pull yoke off, not beat it off. Replace seal and reinstall yoke. Put anti seize on flat of new nut and torque nut slowly and turn pinion at same time to align bearings. At approx 450 ft lbs on nut you should acheive the 70 in lbs plus and additional 5 in lbs for new seal. Job done proper.