Pinion seal

[Bob R.]

I was replacing a leaky pinion seal on my 63 over the weekend. Took the old one out with no problem and cleaned everything up. I went to install the new seal and I'm having a tough time getting it installed. There is no room to tap it in directly so I was using a pipe to drive it in. I ended up bending the new seal. Well off to get another seal. It's not worth installing a bent one. There must be an easier way to install it.
Thanks for any assistance.

[Tom P.]

Re: Pinion seal

I never want to install another pinion seal in a 63-later Vette as long as I live!!!!!
They are a major pain to get the new one in. BUT, with time and patience, it can be done.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Pinion seal

I was replacing a leaky pinion seal on my 63 over the weekend. Took the old one out with no problem and cleaned everything up. I went to install the new seal and I'm having a tough time getting it installed. There is no room to tap it in directly so I was using a pipe to drive it in. I ended up bending the new seal. Well off to get another seal. It's not worth installing a bent one. There must be an easier way to install it.
Thanks for any assistance.

did you mark the pinion nut and pinion end so when you put it back together you have the same preload ??

[Bob R.]

Re: Pinion seal

Clem,
Yes I did mark the pinion.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Pinion seal

Bob, Also make sure you use sealer on the splines inside the yoke or that will be your next oil leak.

[Gary R.]

Re: Pinion seal

Check my thread on this job, it may help you. They can be done in the car but you're better off dropping the diff and being sure about the job. You can also replace the yoke seals and pop the cover to check the posi case. The 63-64 posi's were prone to break so you may have the better Eaton unit in there.
Good luck

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76719

[Bob R.]

Re: Pinion seal

Gary,
Nice thread you should put it in the restorer. My problem now is trying to install the seal while the differential is in the car. It's very difficult to set the seal in staight no room to tap it in.

[Gary R.]

Re: Pinion seal

Thanks Bob, you should read all my threads on that site,all custom work.
Doing if on the car can be done, I've done them that way. I don't think you're going to be able to swing a TW there though so you have to be careful installing the pinion nut. If you didn't mark it what you can do is briing the nut into the cruch sleeve and stop, you'll feel it contact the sleeve. If you use an impacy gun then it's easy to over crush it. Since you didn't replace the bearing it should only have about 5 in/lbs of drag.

Good luck