I am building a 9" differential 3.70: 1 with a Trac Loc unit. I had it all assembled and found that I had overtightened the Pinion Bearing drag. I took it apart again and got a new Crush Sleeve and pinion nut. My plan was to reassemble the pinion carrier, and set the pinion drag to 25 inch-pounds. I assembled the carried without the seal & slinger, and using the old nut tried to set the drag. I cannot get any drag on the pinion bearings. The carrier spins free with no drag, and I am pulling on the nut with my breaker bar, so much the bench vise & bench are moving. It was not this hard to set the drag, when I first did it. Maybe that nut is distorted from overtightening, and locking on the pinion. I'll try another pinion nut.

Does anyone have an opinion?

 

Get rid of that crush collar. You can get a kit from Randy's or others to do so.

 

Mark,
Thanks, I was finally able to get 25 inch pounds drag on the pinion bearings using the crush sleeve. I just needed to eat some more Wheaties.

 

That kit makes it a breeze and it will never loosen / crush down like they tend to in time.