Pinion Nut Torque?

trailjeepman

trailjeepman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Location
Raleigh, NC
I know one of you gear heads on here can tell me the proper torque specs on a pinion nut for a 96' Chevy Suburban 2500, 4x2, 454 motor, rear axel is a 14 bolt full floater. Any help would be appreciated! Some instructions might be helpful also!
Thanks
 
I know it's a pretty good umph. Like at least 125 pounds or more. Unless you have a monster torque wrench, you just use a big breaker bar with good socket (like 3/4 drive) and even a cheater bar on that and crush the sleeve. It's kinda the only thing that needs some experience feel. Everything else is cut and dry. Just crush it a little at a time and then give it a feel.
The pinion slapping on the ring gear is what destroys one. Should take like 10-15 or a little more pounds on the pinion to turn it without axles in place after the sleeve is crushed. I'm hoping this is a new setup with new crush sleeve. I would stay away from crushing old sleeves. Cheap insurance.

I'm no expert but I've got a few under my belt now. Another novice chime in would be nice to assure my answer. Hope that helps.
 
Theres no specific torque setting (unless you have a solid spacer in there or something) Otherwise its tighten it enough to create the proper amount of preload on the pinion bearings.

The proper way if its loose is to remove it and put a new crush sleeve in.

If your trying to bandaid it you can 'try' to tighten it up a little and see if it holds.

Usually they 'loosen' when the crush sleeve, compresses more and creates slop.

To set the crush took me a 6' cheater bar on a 3/4" drive bar, and a good way to hold the yoke.. Books say somthing like 500-600# to start it crushing..

If you can't do it, or find anyone locally to help, your welcome to stop over, its a 15min job with the right size bar and a way to hold it.. I made an 'insert' to go in my receiver hitch and bolts to the yoke.
 
I am having to replace the bearings. I am going to go ahead and replace the crush sleeve also. Might as well do it right. I think I have someone to help me do it. Anymore advise is welcome!
thanks
 
don't eat yellow snow
 
The pinion preload should be around 20-30 inch lbs. with new bearings. Like everyone else mentioned, it takes alot of torque to crush the sleeve.
 
Ok got everything put back together but i cant get the sleeve to crush. Anyone near Burlington that can help? I dont have anything to hold the yoke still. i have a vise but i about ripped it off the table! I can bring it to you if i need to.
 
The pinion nut torques to 440-500 ft lbs.

you need a big fat impact gun. I use a big pipe wrench around the yoke and a piece of pipe on the leaf spring in the vehicle or let it hit the floor out of the vehicle if the pipe wrench won't hold it get a fat piece of square tube that will slide tight over the flange and cut a hole in it for your socket to go threw. then get a real big cheater bar..

pinion bearing preload on a new bearing is 35inch lbs that is tight in the world of pinion preloads.

if you want to bring it to me i can do it for you.
 
I finally got it done! I never could find anything strong enough to hold the pinion housing while I tried to turn the nut. So I put the whole thing on a press. I put the yoke on the bottom and the pinion at the top. Manually pressed it together until i had very little play. Then torqued the nut on down until it was tight. Put the rear end back together and all is good! No noise!
thanks for all the help guys.
 
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