Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual page 177

3 - 96 REAR AXLE - 9 1/4
PINION SEAL (Continued)
(8) Remove pinion seal with pry tool or slide-ham-
mer mounted screw.
INSTALLATION
(1) Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the
lip of pinion seal.
(2) Install new pinion seal with Installer C-3860-A
and Handle C-4171 (Fig. 26)
Fig. 26 PINION SEAL INSTALLER
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
3 - HOUSING
(3) Install companion flange on the end of the
shaft with the reference marks aligned.
(4) Install two bolts into the threaded holes in the
companion flange, 180° apart.
(5) Position Holder 6719 against the companion
flange and install a bolt and washer into one of the
remaining threaded holes. Tighten the bolts so holder
is held to the flange.
(6) Install companion flange on pinion shaft with
Installer C-3718 and Holder 6719.
(7) Install pinion washer and a new pinion nut.
The convex side of the washer must face outward.
CAUTION: Never exceed the minimum tightening
torque 285 N·m (210 ft. lbs.) when installing the
companion flange retaining nut at this point. Dam-
age to collapsible spacer or bearings may result.
(8) Hold companion flange with Holder 6719 and
tighten the pinion nut with a torque set to 285 N·m
(210 ft. lbs.) (Fig. 27). Rotate pinion several revolu-
tions to ensure the bearing rollers are seated.
(9) Rotate pinion with an inch pound torque
wrench. Rotating torque should be equal to the read-
ing recorded during removal plus an additional 0.56
N·m (5 in. lbs.) (Fig. 28).
Fig. 27 TIGHTENING PINION NUT
1 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
2 - COMPANION FLANGE HOLDER
3 - TORQUE WRENCH
Fig. 28 PINION ROTATION TORQUE
1 - COMPANION FLANGE
2 - TORQUE WRENCH
CAUTION: Never loosen pinion nut to decrease pin-
ion bearing rotating torque and never exceed spec-
ified preload torque. If rotating torque is exceeded,
a new collapsible spacer must be installed.
DR