I used the specs from the thread "everything I know about 9 bolts", and I have my pinion preload set to just past 15 in lbs. Now when I took it for a ride I have bearing noise.
Can someone please tell me if i'm screwed now, and I need to take it all apart and put new bearings in, because I set the preload too low. It seems farily loud. When I was coasting down a hill it didn't sound normal at all, but once I put it in gear it seemed to go away, or the exhaust muffled it? I only put about 10 miles on it so far. I searched last night, and I got mixed answers. thanks for any responses

 

That seems a bit low.

I usually shoot for something more up into the 18-25 kind of range on most any kind of rear.

Just tighten the nut a little and see if it helps. I doubt it; but it might.

I also doubt the bearings are hurt, even if it is a bit low.

 

When I tested it at first I had the car in the air, and I was shocked at how hot the rear got so quick. This was only the second rear I set up, and an A tech that I worked with said if you take the old head bearing off with no shims, put it back with no shims. It went into the same rear, and I paid attention to everything else. Backlash was .009, the pattern looked good.
I spent 5 hours sweating yesterday to get shafted. I'll post back when I drive it some more, the alternator took a crap when I took it for the first ride yesterday. thank you
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I guess I can just tighten it a little without taking the nut off to reapply loctite, but I don't know?

 

possibly the noise you heard due to a bad backlash, and you should've turned back to your garage immediately if your rearend made noise or got very hot quickly. i do not think that you ruined your pinion bearing, but i think you might need to take it apart and install a new crush sleeve.