Diff pinion flange not turning

[2bTom]

Hi, I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction as to what I am doing wrong. My sierra standard diff was leaking through the pinion oil seal so I have changed it. Whilst putting it back together I tried to torque the nut up to 100nm as in the manual but it locks the diff even before I reach the required torque setting and the pinion flange won’t turn. The wheel hubs still turn but not the pinion flange. Any help with this is appreciated.

Edited April 12, 2024 by 2bTom

[richyb66]

Can you turn the pinion shaft with the flange when the nut is loose?

[Sparepart]

I did this last autumn without this problem, following the manual as you have. Perhaps the seal has not gone into the housing all the way, and might be wedged out so that it is fouling the inside surface of the flange ?, or might have been proud and has now been pressed in by the flange and just needs to be tapped in a bit further.

[2bTom]

On 4/14/2024 at 6:44 PM, richyb66 said:

Can you turn the pinion shaft with the flange when the nut is loose?

Yes it turns when the nut is loose.

[2bTom]

On 4/15/2024 at 12:46 PM, Sparepart said:

I did this last autumn without this problem, following the manual as you have. Perhaps the seal has not gone into the housing all the way, and might be wedged out so that it is fouling the inside surface of the flange ?, or might have been proud and has now been pressed in by the flange and just needs to be tapped in a bit further.

You are right I checked this and the seal needed to go in slightly further and the flange now turns freely. Unfortunately there is still a slight leak but it is coming through the nut and the thread. I think it can stay not bad enough to worry about for now.