About 4 months ago I had a shop put 3.73's in my rear. Lately, it has started whining (under deaccel). So, while under the car, I pulled the driveshaft off and noticed the pinion isn't tight! I can move the yoke about an 1/8 of an inch side to side (not turning it). The seal is still good at least, I figured that would get tore up. So . . . . am I screwed? Can I tighten it up myself if I'm careful not to overtighten it and further crush the crush sleeve? Or should I find someone who knows what they are doing?

 

Yes, you can tighten it. Make yourself a tool to old the yoke still; I use a piece of ¼" x 1½" strip stock about 3' long with 2 holes drilled near one edge to bolt to 2 of the driveshaft bolts. For best results, take the carrier out, and tighten the nut until it takes about 15-20 inch-pounds to turn the pinion.

This is why I refuse to use crush sleeves, I use the selectable-shim spacer type of crush sleeve eliminator. With one of those you can tighten the nut until it screams for mercy, without having to stop for reaching the preload.

 

Well, I tightened it just a little, enough to remove the play. It got rid of the whine . . .but after driving it the diff feals warm (like when it was breaking in.), so hopefully I didn't totally screw things up

 

They will always feel warm. Even with the big aluminum girdles that have cooling fins, they always run hot. Thats why NASCAR uses diff coolers.

 

Thanks for the reassurance!

 

sounds like your fine, i had to tighten the pinion nut on my moms vans to get rid of the whine after i put in a new seal and crush sleeve. i was being too cautious being that my grandfather told me not to tighten to much.

 

My car has the same whining under deceleration problem. Can anyone tell me whre this pinion is so I can try tightening it. Someone told me the other day at a local shop that I should NOT tighten it because I may blow my rear end after doing it. Is this true? I really want rid of this whine, and under throttle the rear end is dead silent, its just when you are costing that it gets loud. Please advise me of the steps needed to tighten this pinion.

Thank you.
Matt

 

Well, I've driven it 400 miles since tightning the nut, and have had no problems. The whine is gone and a clunk that I thought was a u-joint has gone too. I just hope the nut does not back off again!