Technical 39 to 48 pinion pre load question.

I've watched videos and read conversations but nobody gives an exact. Seems to be the common thing is 15 inch pounds.But does that mean 15 inch pounds to turn The pinion once its together? Or do I hold the pinion and tighten the nut to fifteen inch pounds which seems kind of loose. All new american made bearings and race. Also.
Read on the ford barn to put the pinion in a vice and tighten it up until it's hard to spin one revolution with both hands.

 

isn't it the same as modern ones w/ crush sleeves,where it is turning torque after some crush? seems like it would be...

 

There is not a crush sleeve like a modern rear end.The pinion race just sits in the bottom and that is where it sits. Just needs preload on the bearings.

 

15 in lb is the turning torque, not breakaway torque. That means a torque wrench should read 15 in lb while turning the pinion. It will take more to begin to turn the pinion.

 

Since the later banjo pinions had six splines, I’d think some socket would fit the end to put the torque wrench on. And just snug the double race in the vice?

Would the fifteen pounds be the same for new and used bearings?

 

I've read 0-5 on used bearings and 15-20 on new bearings. The green socket in the pictures fits the splines.its and oil pressure sending unit socket. So i tighten the nuts down till it takes 15" to turn the pinion?correct?

 

sorry i didn't make it clear--i know no sleeve,just saying you'd think it would be about the 'same finished idea' as it were...ja racer sums it up well-and better than i did!

 

It's 15 INCH Lbs........ not 15 lbs.

 

Yes I know inch pounds. I'll mess with it tomorrow

 

Old timers say, with pinion clamped in the vise, grab the housing and spin it...it should make about one revolution. That feels tight on the last one I did.

 

I agree.That's why I was asking.I did the same thing in the vice and tightened it up and spun it till it did one revolution and it seemed tight but if that's what it is then that's what it is.

 

Load the pinion in the housing with the first nut on, let it cool and adjust the first and second nut until you're at 15" lbs. The second nut usually increases the pre load. Bend the lock tabs and recheck pre load.

 

Got it all done and when turning the pinion.It reads right about 15". It's nice and smooth.Just tighter than I figured it should be to turn by hand. Just for fun, I put the pinion in the vice and spun it with both hands and could get it to spin around one revolution.So I guess that's how the old timers did it. Thanks for all the help everybody.