Rear axle pinion rotational torque question (crush collar)

airwerks · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 9:59 pm

I'm installing a Trak-loc in the back of my 05 CRD (new bearings too), and had a BEAR of a time getting the crush collar to crush. By the time it did, I had over torqued it. FSM specs for new bearings is 10-30 inch/lbs, and I ended up at 40 in/lbs. Do I need to tear it apart again for the 33% over torque? I will if I need to, I just don't want to.

streetglideok · **Posted:** Sun Jan 12, 2014 11:40 pm

To set the preload right, yes, and replace the crush sleeve. They make a tool that holds the pinion yoke so you can use a long cheater bar to crush the booger. Once it starts to collapse, it takes a very small amount of twisting to get the preload too tight. If you back off the nut and try to just retighten it, you'll end up with problems down the road with the pinion bearings. Now did you lube the new bearings with grease or gear oil before you installed? If you used bearing grease, you're likely fine due to the added drag of the grease. Should use gear oil.

airwerks · **Posted:** Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:02 am

I used gear lube on the bearings. I had made a tool to hold the pinion yoke already. I broke 2 breaker bars with cheater pipes on them trying to crush the collar already. My IR231 wouldn't seat it, and I ended up borrowing a 3/4" impact from a friend to get it to budge. Crap, guess I'm ordering another crush collar.

streetglideok · **Posted:** Mon Jan 13, 2014 2:48 am

To be safe, that is your best bet. I honestly used a giant pair of channel locks to hold the pinion, and used an IR titanium 1/2" on shop air to nudge it once it started to squeeze. An IR231 on shop air and an impact socket would likely barely be able to do it. It's kind of weak by todays standards. If you get a pipe to fit onto a pinion holding tool, then use a quality breaker bar(snap on, Mac, etc) with a pipe on it, you should be able to do it manually. Impact sockets hold up better for that kind of stress, and may require an assistant. 3/4" gun, due to its power and heft can be hard to modulate and bump the nut small amounts as you found out. Key is to get the sleeve just to the buckle point, then it will crush easy. I would at least get a better 1/2" gun to nudge the nut the next go round. Once the preload gets close, you almost have to do it by hand, as a slight amount will punch it past the mark.

airwerks · **Posted:** Mon Jan 13, 2014 4:27 pm

Thanks. I'm picking one up at the dealer tomorrow with my replacement ring gear bolts. Napa wanted $45.89 for just the crush collar!

Rear axle pinion rotational torque question (crush collar)

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