Replacing front pinion shaft seal..any tricks here?

[Michael G.]

Good Saturday evening all.

The front pinion shaft seal on my '66 has a minute drip and will only get worse. Have read the procedure in the service manual on getting access to the pinion yoke by removing the snubber bracket. Not wanting to drill a hole in the floor board to remove the front bolt (one of two bolts supporting the carrier). Any one out there have in their "bag of tricks" (other than dropping the differential) an alternative suggestion on how to remove the front bolt.

Have got the drive shaft pulled and snubber cushion removed. Thanks.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Replacing front pinion shaft seal..any tricks here?

Pull the body (sorry Mike). Is the minute drip like one drop a month, or a drip a day?

This is one of those hard ones, drop or lower the diff with snubber bracket in place.

[Michael G.]

Re: Replacing front pinion shaft seal..any tricks here?

Pull the body (sorry Mike). Is the minute drip like one drop a month, or a drip a day?

This is one of those hard ones, drop or lower the diff with snubber bracket in place.

Thanks Ron but pulling the body....what is it the good fellas say "Fa git about it" . The car is way past pulling the body back off. It's either cut a small hole in the floor pan, patch afterward (keeping in mind it's inside the storage area) to remove front bolt or drop the differential. Looking for any other ideas before I proceed.

The car has just went through a full nut and bolt body off resto....changed the side seals on the carrier but oooops, didn't change the pinion seal. I can wipe bottom of the carrier, small amount on body and then go out for a spin, when I return it needs wiped again.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Replacing front pinion shaft seal..any tricks here?

Mike, there might be a way to do this, but I won't be under a C2/C3 for the next two weeks unless someone wants to loan one out in KC

I am sure you would have to let off the spring bolts, take down the leaf, and strut rod bracket to pinion.

From there we'd need to see if you can loosen the pinion cross member enough to let the nose drop down w/o affecting the half shafts.

In the old days (when these cars needed assistance to sell them half cooked) the guys put corn meal in the diff. Maybe that's all you need to stop the leak, (ouch).

Don't worry Saturday nite live starts in 3 hours

[Michael G.]

Re: Replacing front pinion shaft seal..any tricks here?

I am sure you would have to let off the spring bolts, take down the leaf, and strut rod bracket to pinion.

From there we'd need to see if you can loosen the pinion cross member enough to let the nose drop down w/o affecting the half shafts.

Rear spring has been disconnected from trailing arms...relieving tension. Am looking at trying what your suggesting loosening the rear cross member a smidge and possibly.....just possibly the carrier can be tilted downward for bolt removal. I'll keep the floor jack under the carrier for safety purposes. Cross member has new somberos so should come loose w/o too much effort.

[Gary R.]

Re: Replacing front pinion shaft seal..any tricks here?

Mike
I recommend you remove the diff to do this job. I know it can be done on the car, I've done them like that on jack stands back when I was much younger and flexible.

I wrote this thread years ago for this job, hope it helps. I'll be at Carlisle this week if you're attending and have a problem stop by my seminar on Friday or my spot- L116 and I'll go over it with you.

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

[Philip C.]

Re: Replacing front pinion shaft seal..any tricks here?

Good Saturday evening all.

The front pinion shaft seal on my '66 has a minute drip and will only get worse. Have read the procedure in the service manual on getting access to the pinion yoke by removing the snubber bracket. Not wanting to drill a hole in the floor board to remove the front bolt (one of two bolts supporting the carrier). Any one out there have in their "bag of tricks" (other than dropping the differential) an alternative suggestion on how to remove the front bolt.

Have got the drive shaft pulled and snubber cushion removed. Thanks.

Hi Mike a lot of times its not the seal, gear oil leaks down the pinion splines. If you change the seal remember to seal the splines also. Phil 8063

[Ray K.]

Re: Replacing front pinion shaft seal..any tricks here?

Mike,

I believe it is possible to drop the crossmember slightly and tilt the differential to remove the pinion bracket. However, since you have already disconnected the driveshaft and relieved the spring tension, I would recommend dropping the spring, disconnect the strut rods at the bracket, remove the bracket, and disconnect the half shafts at the diff and the remove the whole assembly on your floor jack. This will make it much easier to work on to replace the pinion seal.

Ray