First time ever replacing a Rear Pinion Seal ?

[XraytecH]

PIECE OF CAKE!!!

You read and see YouTube tutorials about using an inch pound beam style torque wrench to dial in the preload. But first time out I got to say... kinda useless. Just creep up on the preload with a medium impact wrench till the back and forth play (not rotational play ?) is gone.

Now we wait to see if my pinion bearings blow up ?

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[Minty JL]

Sweet

 

[JTGuy]

Take it out for a drive and check the heat in the pinion bearing area.

 

[XraytecH]

Take it out for a drive and check the heat in the pinion bearing area.

It's warm to the touch.

 

[XraytecH]

So far so good took a drive at highway speeds. Nothing has failed catastrophically other than my nerves. Still have that thought in the back of my mind, shits going to happen.

 

[drewcnit]

Not to make your nerves any worse...but that's why I would use a shop to do that work for me.

One of my Jeep club buddies from down the street was driving home last night rear diff locked up after her pinion - I'm guessing - lost it's preload and the bearings chewed into the carrier.
The carnage is real, if you look closely in the picture, there's bearings in the gear oil in the bottom of the housing, broken ring gear teeth, and that carrier looks to be toast too.
2012 JKU, she's not sure about OEM vs aftermarket having been in there, as she bought the Jeep used...

 

[XraytecH]

Warm Sunday afternoon driving to two little league games. No catastrophic failure.

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