I have a 71 GS350 and found a steady leak where the yoke attaches to the rear end. A member of this forum was kind enough to tell me I need a new pinion seal (I thought it was just a gasket) which I ordered from Rock Auto. I also ordered a rear end 10 bolt cover gasket from them for about $4.00 figuring let the mechanic change the grease too as who knows when it was cleaned out last. He is telling me that it is a fairly simple job once on a lift and should not take 30 minutes. Do I need any other parts to complete this? Thanks.
There is an internal oring that could be changed as well which seals between the the pinion shaft and driveshaft flange. The seal you likely have seals the driveshaft flange to housing. I've reused the internal orings but for a $1 part, its worth replacing. 30 minutes? Well if everything goes "perfectly" and your mechanic knows exactly what he is doing thats possible but thats just the flange seal. If you want the housing flushed and the cover gasket replaced it will take longer. Just make make your guy knows what he is doing. If he goes to far on the pinion preload your gear pattern will be screwed up and then you have to start over with a new crush sleeve.
8.5 10 bolt rears do not use the internal 'O' ring like the 667-70 rears do. Do not worry about that. Crushing the crush sleeve too far really will not affect the ring and pinion pattern. It will however kill the pinion inner and outer bearings and burn them up. When reusing a crush sleeve there is NOT (NOT) be a high torque on the nut like you would with a NEW crush sleeve. A NEW CRUSH sleeve will require over 100 foot lbs. of torque to strat to crush that sleeve and that is where that HIGH torque comes from. Just snug the pinion nut tight as you can with a wrench and holding the yoke with a monkey wrench (pipe wrench) then stake the nut with a punch and call it a day. Reinstall the drive shaft.
Thanks for the correction monzaz. The 71 shop manual shows the oring for "All series" so I assumed the Skylark rear would have it as well. And yes only shimming will effect the tooth pattern. ou:
