yoke nut torque

[Mel S.]

What is the torque for the yoke on the rear differential for a mid year?
Thanks
Mel

[Mark M.]

Re: yoke nut torque

Did you already loosen the nut? I'm guessing your changing the seal! The nut needs to be marked to it's clock position on the pinion threaded end, so you could tighten it back where it was. The yoke position and driveshaft position should also be put back as original if possible to keep factory balance. If it's as original, it has a crush sleeve between the pinion bearings which takes a far amount of torque on the nut to achieve the preload on the bearings when set up. The pinion is turned with an inch lb. measurement needed depending on new or old bearings and seal. If the nut isn't marked, it's a matter of trying to get close to original preload. Could be 50-150 ft. lb. ? the crush sleeve is like a spring. Gary Ramadei may know best way with the nut not marked!

[Gary R.]

Re: yoke nut torque

What is the torque for the yoke on the rear differential for a mid year?
Thanks
Mel

Mel,
Unless you have installed or have installed a solid sleeve in place of a crush sleeve, there is not a torque rating for the nut. The Drag, which is a torque rating, measured in in/lbs is where you look.

So if the nut was not marked as in a pinion seal replacement, you may be able to get a partial swing on the nut with the 0-30 in/lb dial TW to see where it is. It's a lot easier with the diff out and on a stand.

For used bearings total drag at the pinion is 5-7 in/lb. IF you installed new bearings you need to set the pinion preload first then the total which includes the case preload.

If the pinion is too loose, and sometimes the bore for the seal is not machined deep enough, the seal flange will cause a drag on the pinion yoke shield giving a false reading. Too loose and the pinion is going to crash into the posi case, if anyone has seen a posi with uniform groove cut into the OD that is why.

If the nut is too tight you will wreck the bearings and possibly compress the crush sleeve more.

I wrote this years ago, it may help.

63-79 Pinion Seal Replacement | Corvette Forum : DigitalCorvettes.com Corvette Forums

[Mel S.]

Re: yoke nut torque

Thanks for the input
Mel