Henre
Member
- Joined
- January 30, 2011
- Messages
- 12
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- San Leandro, CA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 Mercury Mountaineer
My vehicle is a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer AWD V-6 with a standard open rear differential with 111,000 miles. Recently, the pinion seal started to leak a bit. It appeared to be the original seal. I installed a new pinion seal. The leak stopped for 4 days. Now after about a hundred miles, differential lubricant is being thrown out in a small amount coming off the pinion flange.
The pinion flange where the seal rides appeared to be smooth upon reinstall.
I have several questions.
Is it possible I put too much fluid in the differential? The owner guide says fill to about 1/2 inch below pipe plug but I filled to overflowing.
Does the pinion nut require loctite? Can fluid get past the pinion nut?
What is the proper torque specification for the pinion nut? I do not have an inch # wrench so I measured the distance from the end of the pinion shaft to the face of the pinion nut (7/32") and duplicated that upon reinstall.
Does anyone have a blowup diagram of this gear set showing the pinion shaft and associated seals, shims and nut?
Why is the pinion flange such a tight press fit on the pinion shaft? Why is the torque on the nut so important, it doesn't seem to hold the pinion in the case? Is it possible my pinion nut is now too loose?
How is the pinion gear and shaft actually held in place in the differential?
On doing this job, I did not pull the wheels off and I did not drain the fluid completely, after the flange was pulled off I just let the fluid run out the front of the differential into a pan, pulled the seal, wiped the inside of the sealing area and put in a new seal. About a quart of fluid came out and I replaced with new fluid the same that was in the differential.
Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks
Henre
The pinion flange where the seal rides appeared to be smooth upon reinstall.
I have several questions.
Is it possible I put too much fluid in the differential? The owner guide says fill to about 1/2 inch below pipe plug but I filled to overflowing.
Does the pinion nut require loctite? Can fluid get past the pinion nut?
What is the proper torque specification for the pinion nut? I do not have an inch # wrench so I measured the distance from the end of the pinion shaft to the face of the pinion nut (7/32") and duplicated that upon reinstall.
Does anyone have a blowup diagram of this gear set showing the pinion shaft and associated seals, shims and nut?
Why is the pinion flange such a tight press fit on the pinion shaft? Why is the torque on the nut so important, it doesn't seem to hold the pinion in the case? Is it possible my pinion nut is now too loose?
How is the pinion gear and shaft actually held in place in the differential?
On doing this job, I did not pull the wheels off and I did not drain the fluid completely, after the flange was pulled off I just let the fluid run out the front of the differential into a pan, pulled the seal, wiped the inside of the sealing area and put in a new seal. About a quart of fluid came out and I replaced with new fluid the same that was in the differential.
Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks
Henre