Originally Posted by Frank Reiner

Ks:

Re: Pinion bearing preload

1) Did you measure & record the pinion depth before removing it from the case?
If you did, you have a measurement to which you can return.
If not, because of the very small variances that are allowed in the manufacture of roller bearings, the odds are in your favor that the original compensating washer will be correct.
You can check the pattern without setting pinion bearing preload; just snug up the pinion nut.

2) Do you still have the original spacing sleeve (crush collar)? If you do, measure its length. Compare that length to the length of the new spacing sleeve. If the new spacing sleeve is more than ~.005" longer than the original, pre-crush the new sleeve, very carefully, in a press to within .005" of the original. Pre-crushing will make it much easier to continue the crushing with the pinion nut. Install the seal before finishing the crushing/preloading; you only get one shot at crushing a sleeve.