Pinion Flange: Service and Repair

Special Tools:

1. Note: The rear wheels and brake drums must be removed to prevent brake drag during drive pinion bearing preload adjustment.

Remove the brake drums.





2. Mark the driveshaft flange and pinion flange for correct alignment during installation.





3. Remove the four driveshaft bolts and disconnect the driveshaft. Wire the driveshaft out of the way.





4. Install a Nm (inch-pound) torque wrench on the pinion nut and record the torque required to maintain rotation of the pinion through several revolutions.





5. CAUTION: After removal of the pinion nut, discard it. A new nut must be used for installation.

Using the special tool, hold the pinion flange while removing the pinion nut.





6. Mark the pinion flange in relation to the drive pinion stem to ensure correct alignment during installation.





7. Using the special tool, remove the pinion flange.


Installation
1. Lubricate the pinion flange splines.
- Use SAE 80W-90 Premium Rear Axle Lubricant XY-80W90-QL or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSP-M2C197-A.





2. Note: Disregard the scribe marks if a new pinion flange is being installed.

Align the pinion flange with the drive pinion shaft.





3. With the drive pinion in place in the rear axle housing, install the pinion flange using the special tool.





4. Position the new pinion nut.





5. CAUTION: Under no circumstances is the pinion nut to be backed off to reduce preloads. If reduced preload is required, a new drive pinion collapsible spacer and pinion nut must be installed.

CAUTION: Remove the special tool while taking preload readings with the Nm (inch-pound) torque wrench.

Using the special tool to hold the pinion flange, tighten the pinion nut.
- Rotate the pinion occasionally to make sure the cone and roller bearings arc seating correctly.
- Install a Nm (inch-pound) torque wrench on the pinion nut.
- Rotating the pinion through several revolutions, take frequent cone and roller bearing torque preload readings until the original recorded preload reading is obtained.
- If the original recorded preload is lower than specification for used bearings, tighten to the appropriate specification. If the preload is higher than the specification, then tighten the nut to the original reading as recorded.
- Refer to the torque specification for used pinion bearings in the Specifications.





6. Position the driveshaft and align the marks on the pinion flange.





7. Install the four driveshaft bolts.
8. Install the rear brake drums.