how did that get lose???
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 71
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From: OKLAHOMA
how did that get lose???
Hey guys, I was working on my brother in-laws Chevy last night because it starting making noise in the rear yesterday and found that the pinion nut was lose and was letting the pinion slide down and hit the carrier. There were a couple pretty good gouges on the side of the carrier but the pinion looked fine. He's broke, so I looked it over real good, replaced the pinion seel, cranked the pinion nut back on with impact, buttoned up the cover and filled with grease. It drove fine afterwords.
I have never seen a pinion nut come lose before. What happened? Just want to know if I missed something...
I have never seen a pinion nut come lose before. What happened? Just want to know if I missed something...
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Western Slope, Colorado
Vibration over time, maybe from slightly worn splines on the drive shaft? I have read that the pinion nut should only be used once, use old pinion nut for setting up and then install new pinion nut. Not having a used pinion nut laying around I have put some loctite on and so far had good results. As far as cranking it down and letting it ride goes, I was on a road trip with a old Dodge Dart convertible and it started making a noise like a milk jug was caught in the rear fender well, we pulled over and looked, did not see anything obvious so we went on our way. I started making noise again so I pulled off to look for a parts store just in case. I went over some railroad tracks and the car came to a screeching halt, the pinion nut rolled out one side and the washer out the other side. We took off the driveshaft and pushed the car to the side. I tightened the pinion nut down as good as I could get it with a half inch drive breaker and drove the car from Denver to Wisconsin and back with no problems. Drove the car for three years until it just fell apart, it was a basket case to begin with, but never had another problem with the rear end.
Wes
Wes
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
> I have read that the pinion nut should only be used once
True. I think that is the beginning and end of the problem. Especially if it has an oblong end to act as a lock washer. Some are suppose to be tighten to 250+ foot pounds. Kind of hard to do without an impact wrench under a vehicle.
True. I think that is the beginning and end of the problem. Especially if it has an oblong end to act as a lock washer. Some are suppose to be tighten to 250+ foot pounds. Kind of hard to do without an impact wrench under a vehicle.
