Well you got lucky then to not need to press off the outer bearing. You will be having ALLOT of fun preloading that new collar, and will be wishing you listened to us in the first place!!! But you can use an impact SLOWLY or a real big breaker bar, Just don't over do it, cause you will be buying a new collar, because once it is over torqued it needs to be replaced again. I wish you the best of luck on this venture though. Korey.

 

[ol]
To get the proper pre-load on the pinion bearings, you need to remove the axles and and the carrier assembly or you will also be measuring the drag of the gearset and the case side bearings.

You need to hold the pinion flange steady while you torque the pinion nut, stopping to measure the rotating torque of the pinion until you get it tight to preload specs.

Measure the rotating torque of the drive pinion using an inch-pound torque wrench. The rotating torque for the drive pinion bearings should be (10-20lbin) for used bearings.

I personally would not have replaced the crush sleeve to make so much more work. The crush sleeve is not a wearing part.[/ol]

 

when i swapped out my 10 bolt for a 12 bolt i had to change yokes to fit my driveshaft(the 10 bolt yoke is bigger) if you jack the rear of the truck up and measure how much torque is required to turn the wheels with the pinion nut, then make sure you re- tighten so that the same torque measurement is acheived, the crush sleeve doesnt need to be replaced. Some say not to re- use the pinion flange nut, but if you load it with loctite it will be just fine. check the torque again after about a 100 miles. I realize this info is a little late,as you have already replaced the crush sleeve. Good luck with the pre load, thats alot of work.