Hi all, My Father died last September and I inherited his 1988 F150 4.9 w/ 4 speed T-18. I was looking through some of the records and I found a receipt from a garage that told him that the pinion (thing that the rear U-joint fits in) was loose. It IS leaking around that area, so today I took out the two U-bolts and removed the u-joint/drive shaft so I could tighten the nut holding the pinion if it is indeed loose. I can't find a socket that will fit the nut though. I have a 1" and its too small. I also have a 1 1/16'' and although it fits, it spins on the nut when I try to tighten it. So it is too big, or its because its a 12 point socket? Question is.... does anyone know what size OD the nut is so I can find the right size socket??

Also, what is involved in replacing the seal if it is indeed bad? As I said, it is leaking. However, I have never heard of a pinion nut coming loose... Any help would be most welcome

Soctt Laminack
Dallas, Texas

 

My Ford9inch has a 1+1/16" nut on it.

Can't check the 8.8" ones they both have a drive shaft on them. xD

There's a 26mm size that's bigger than 1" and smaller than 1+1/16".
I guess it could be that? :/

The engine and T18 are inch and pretty much the rest of the vehicle
is metric. The T18's got metric ball bearings in it tho, like almost ever'
thing else. ;)

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I've gotten to where I use a verier caliper to check unknown nut and
bolt sizes because it's easier to remember the next time, since I only
know it by one size. xD


And inch and metric thread gauges have come in real handy too. :)
With those it helps to have a .001"/.05mm reading caliper.

Heck they come loose all the time. :) No kidding.

Just tighten it back up using no more than say a two foot wrench and
it'll be ok. :)

Alvin in AZ