Backwaterperformance

ive got a 93 toyota pickup and the pinion seal is cracked and leaking oil, the drive shaft is slinging gear oil everywhere..if anybody can give me some pointers on how to fix this problem jsut let me know..i sure would appreciate it.

GSGALLANT

Is there any up-down or side-side play at the pinion flange when you grab the driveshaft and wiggle it? If so, you've lost your pinion pre-load, and that is typically what will start any big leaks at your pinion seal.

You can fix it while on the truck by removing the driveshaft, removing the pinion nut (it is staked in place), and removing the pinion flange. You then pull the seal out, put the new one in, put the flange back on and torque and stake the pinion nut.

That is a quick way to fix it, but it's not possible to properly set up your differential by doing it this way. First of all, it is nearly impossible to accurately measure the pinion preload with the carrier installed in the differential, which is why pinion crush sleeves are such a pain to use (when compared to solid spacers). And secondly, you shouldn't be re-using a crush sleeve once it's already been crushed, but to replace it, you need to take the front pinion bearing out, which is a pain in the butt to do while the pinion is in place. You need a special puller to get it out.