Blackbird

time to get mine fixed.

how much damage should I expect?

black00ssFL

iTrader: (24)

$4 for seal + whatever gear oil you wanna use + new pinion nut + do it yourself = save $$

Blackbird

I have been told you need special tools in order to do the job properly?

no?

black00ssFL

iTrader: (24)

Not if you aren't changeing anything internal necessarily. You just need to pay attention to the location of the shims, and which way they face. Although, I'd measure backlash and gear pattern upon reinstallation just to make sure.

SickboyT/A

pinion seal takes about 20 minutes to change, no special tools needed...just mark the nut to the pinion gear with a paint mark or scribe so you dont crush the crush sleeve anymore when you re-tighten it

alamantia

iTrader: (10)

you cant crush the crush coller too much, it bottoms out once both the tapered inner and outter pinion bearing seat properly in the races. However if you over tighten the pinion nut you can damage the bearings once you drive the car. There are no shims involved what so ever in a pinion seal swap. Just mark the nut and when you re-torque it down torque it to the exact spot that it came from. If anything go a degree or two tighter if the rear has some mileage on it. You may need a small puller to get the yoke off the pinion, most slide right off. Dont forget to put the drive shaft back in the same orientation it came out of the car, clean the surface the seal rids on the yoke with a scotch brite, and dab some grease on the new seal, make sure the olkd seal has the spring still on the back of it like the new one has, if it doesnt you have to fish it out of the rear cause it broke.

Blackbird

great info guys!

if it's that straight forward I will tackle myself.

if I could do a heads/cam swap I can certainly do this if thats all it involves.

thanks!!!

wrencher

iTrader: (2)

Another wise thing you could do is to check the turning torque w/ a dial type inch pound torque wrench b4 disassembly.That is w/out the brake brag on the rear rotors as well.
Then re-check that it is the same after re-assembly.