I don't know where my head was today, because I didn't measure or
mark anything about the pinion. I've read that it should have between
10-30 inch/lbs to turn, so that what I'm going to do.
The yoke came off easy with just a few taps and didn't have any groove,
so I reused it. Seal came out reasonably easy, just took several minutes
to work my way all around the seal.
I had oil on the right backing plate, so when I pulled the wheels and brake
drum I peeled the wheel cylinder dust cover back. It was completely dry, so
I had to have a leaking axle seal. So my plan to replace the pinions seal just
expanded to both axle seals also.
To get the axles out I had to remove the 4 bolts that retain the axles.
The right axle is about 3 inches longer than the right side.
Both seal surfaces were good. Nothing deep enough to catch a finger nail on,
just a very light depression. The axle bearing spun smoothly, so I'm good to
go there.
I have a parking brake on the left wheel only and it's the only way I
have to hold the rear end while tightening the pinion nut without
help. So I tried it, but the traction lock would break loose at about
150 ft/lbs of torque. Wonder how that compares to others!
What do I use to replace the fluid lost during the seal replacements???
Where do I get it??? If I understand correctly, there is a friction modifier
that I need to add to regular rear end fluid.