Pinion Flange: Service and Repair

Drive Pinion Flange





Special Tool(s)

Removal

1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. Remove the rear wheel and tire assemblies.

3. CAUTION: Remove the rear brake calipers to prevent drag during the drive pinion bearing preload adjustment.

CAUTION: Do not allow the calipers to hang from the brake hoses.

Remove the rear brake caliper and support bracket from the knuckle as an assembly. Wire the caliper and support bracket assembly out of the way.








4. CAUTION: Index-mark the driveshaft flange and pinion flange to maintain initial balance during installation.

CAUTION: The driveshaft centering socket yoke fits tightly on the pinion flange pilot. Never hammer on the driveshaft or any of its components to disconnect the yoke from the flange. Pry only in the area shown, with a suitable tool, to disconnect the yoke from the flange.

Disconnect and position the driveshaft out of the way.





5. Install an Nm (inch/pound) torque wrench on the nut and record the torque necessary to maintain rotation of the drive pinion gear through several revolutions.





6. CAUTION: After removing the nut, discard it. Use a new nut for installation.

Use the special tool to hold the pinion flange while removing the nut.





7. Index-mark the pinion flange and drive pinion gear stem to maintain initial balance during installation.





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

Installation

1. Inspect the pinion flange seal journal for rust, nicks, and scratches prior to installing the flange.
^ Polish the seal journal with fine crocus cloth, if necessary.
2. Lubricate the pinion flange splines.
^ Use SAE 80W-90 Premium Rear Axle Lubricant XY-80W90-QL or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSP-M2C197-A.





3. NOTE: Disregard the index marks if installing a new pinion flange.

Position the pinion flange.





4. Using the special tools, install the pinion flange.





5. CAUTION: Do not under any circumstance loosen the nut to reduce preload. If it is necessary to reduce preload, install a new collapsible spacer and nut.

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

Tighten the nut to set the preload.
^ Rotate the drive pinion occasionally to make sure the differential pinion bearings seat correctly. Take frequent differential pinion bearing torque preload readings by rotating the drive pinion with a Nm (inch/pound) torque wrench.
^ If the preload recorded prior to disassembly is lower than the specification for used bearings,then tighten the nut to specification. If the preload recorded prior to disassembly is higher than the specification for used bearings, then tighten the nut to the original reading as recorded.
^ Refer to the torque specification for used differential pinion bearings.





6. CAUTION: Align the index marks.

CAUTION: Install the driveshaft with new bolts. If new bolts are not available, apply Threadlock and Sealer EOAZ-19554-AA or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSK-M2G351-A5 to the threads of the original bolts.

CAUTION: The driveshaft centering socket yoke fits tightly on the pinion flange pilot. To make sure that the yoke seats squarely on the flange, tighten the bolts evenly in a cross pattern as shown.

Connect the driveshaft.
7. Install the rear brake calipers.
8. install the rear wheel and tire assemblies.
9. Lower the vehicle.