Torque spec!

[Dansox]

I need one last thing before I finish the job. I replaced the pinion ring on my rear differential, well the flange that connects over that has a nut right in the center of it that holds it on. I need the nut torque specification! I called Ford and they can't seem to find it in their AllData Program. Anybody know what it may be?!

[BigFuel]

Unless this post was supposed to go somewhere else we are going to need more information. What truck, year, 4x2 or 4x4? Do you mean the bearing cap (one on each end of the Differential Case)?

[Dansox]

Originally Posted by BigFuel

Unless this post was supposed to go somewhere else we are going to need more information. What truck, year, 4x2 or 4x4? Do you mean the bearing cap (one on each end of the Differential Case)?

Sorry about that my man. I've been working on my truck all day and trying to look up info, getting a little confused. I have a 1997 F250 7.3, 4x4. It is the rear differential. The nut that holds on the flange which holds onto the pinion ring and everything behind that.

[BigFuel]

We might be talking the same thing. Can you take a picture of you pointing at exactly which nut? Thank you.

[Dansox]

I put it back together to later figure out that i needed the pinion ring, which i believe is causing the leaking. You can see the flange is whats connected to the rear diff. and the bolt is in the middle. ( as you can see in the up-close pic) I have to do some running around so when I get back home I'll take it back apart and give you a better pic, if needed.

[BigFuel]

I was way off. That is the Pinion Stem Nut. She's a b1tch to tighten at 440-500 lb-ft. Not supposed to use a power tool of any kind on it. Some auto stores will rent a tool called a Companion Flange Holding Tool. This holds the pinion side universal steady while you set the nut with a heavy torque wrench. For future safety put RTV around the bottom of the nut where the nut rides on the universal (before spinning on the nut and torquing) to keep creeping oil from the differential from leaking out down the universal to pinion splines.

[BigFuel]

Found this for you:

[Dansox]

Thanks a lot bub. I just got done working on it, no good news. I couldn't set that pinion in there since its a press fit, so I tried putting the flange on and tried to tighten it down and hopefully it would all just press in nicely. That's not the case. Tomorrow Ill just get something that sets over the pinion evenly and mallet it in. I really just cant believe how hard it is to tighten that bolt.. I cant raise the truck on jacks cause it shakes too much when I try to torque that bolt down, So I can't really use that big of a cheater bar. It's a pain in the a$$. I know I'm not supposed to but I may use my torque gun (which is only 350lbs of torque) to tighten in down just a bit, then do the rest by hand..

[BigFuel]

Reason for not letting you use a power tool is that the pinion has chush washers in there supporting it. The gun's wrapping _could_ mess them up. In the shop we wouldnt let a piece of paper stop us from doing anything. Time is money.

[Dansox]

lol That's for sure. I also did go ahead and replaced the crush washer. The original wasn't bad, but I was already there and have no intention on going back anytime soon.