489 8-3/4 - Number of Pinion Input Splines WITHOUT Removing Yoke?

[PurpleBeeper]

Well, I have a 8-3/4 489 sure-grip center section that I want to put a different set of gears in. I've only ever been able to get the pinion yoke off with a long cheater bar & the weight of the car on the tires in the past. This center section is laying on my garage floor.

Is there a way to know how many input splines I have on the pinion gear? (10 or 29) so I get the correct replacement gears?

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

 

[moparnation74]

Well, I have a 8-3/4 489 sure-grip center section that I want to put a different set of gears in. I've only ever been able to get the pinion yoke off with a long cheater bar & the weight of the car on the tires in the past. This center section is laying on my garage floor.

Is there a way to know how many input splines I have on the pinion gear? (10 or 29) so I get the correct replacement gears?

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

Pop the nut and washer off and you can tell a 10 spline yoke from a 29 spline easily....Wire brush around the perimeter and blow off...

Take an air tool to the nut....Use a harmonic balancer puller to remove it...Flat side facing you and curved side to rear. Use 2 bolts......at an angle across yoke...

 

[popslavaz]

The yoke's have different size nut's. 1-1/4'-1-5/16 nut it's a 29 spline.Smaller nut she's a 10 spline. Info from DR.DIFF when I bought my gear set from him. Hope this help's. (HE HAD THE BEST PRICE ON GEARS ALSO) POPS

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Pop the nut and washer off and you can tell a 10 spline yoke from a 29 spline easily....Wire brush around the perimeter and blow off...

Take an air tool to the nut....Use a harmonic balancer puller to remove it...Flat side facing you and curved side to rear. Use 2 bolts......at an angle across yoke...

Hey MoparNation74, can that be done with the pumpkin sitting on the garage floor????? It seems like that's a great approach for a pumpkin still in the car, but wouldn't the ring/pinion just spin when trying to take off the nut? Please teach me if I'm missing something. I "guess" I could jam the gears with a screwdriver, but I wouldn't want to damage the posi unit/housing since I want to re-use it.

 

[moparnation74]

Hey MoparNation74, can that be done with the pumpkin sitting on the garage floor????? It seems like that's a great approach for a pumpkin still in the car, but wouldn't the ring/pinion just spin when trying to take off the nut? Please teach me if I'm missing something. I "guess" I could jam the gears with a screwdriver, but I wouldn't want to damage the posi unit/housing since I want to re-use it.

PB

Yes...it can be done in and out of the car. If I don't find a picture showing this I will take a pic tonight...

 

[91r/t]

I guess I don't see the benefit to not taking the yoke off.....Once that nut is loosened, don't you lose the preload on the crush collar anyway on the 489? Guess I am just confused a bit. I get why he wouldn't wanna remove the nut if you were keeping the center section intact to use but if your gonna rebuild it anyway your screwed either way right?

 

[moparnation74]

I guess I don't see the benefit to not taking the yoke off.....Once that nut is loosened, don't you lose the preload on the crush collar anyway on the 489? Guess I am just confused a bit. I get why he wouldn't wanna remove the nut if you were keeping the center section intact to use but if your gonna rebuild it anyway your screwed either way right?

I think he wants to install a new set of gears

 

[91r/t]

I think he wants to install a new set of gears

Wouldn't you have to change the pinion and ring then anyways?? Which makes removing the yoke necessary right?

 

[moparnation74]

Wouldn't you have to change the pinion and ring then anyways?? Which makes removing the yoke necessary right?

My 489's I had to use a puller.....funny things is the Dana's I have or had never had to....

 

[91r/t]

I guess I was just confused on why not just pull the yoke now and get it over with if your gonna replace gears.....that's all. Wasn't sure if there was more going on that I was missing. I have a 489 so I was kinda interested.

 

[moparnation74]

I guess I was just confused on why not just pull the yoke now and get it over with if your gonna replace gears.....that's all. Wasn't sure if there was more going on that I was missing. I have a 489 so I was kinda interested.

I don't disagree a bit....I think he wanted to get a quick idea as to what to order. They way he mentioned to remove a yoke by banging or prying off can be a PITA...

The old redneck method is to remove the guys and then take a large punch and bang the pinion out.....my banging and Superman tightening days are of the past...now I let other tools take that blunt...

Me and you are on the same page my friend....just do a complete teardown, you have to do that anyways...

 

[91r/t]

Yea I am always down for some quicker ways to do stuff or secrets. I think I may do the crush collar eliminator deal if I do another 489 to make it easier to swap out gearing.

 

[moparnation74]

Yea I am always down for some quicker ways to do stuff or secrets. I think I may do the crush collar eliminator deal if I do another 489 to make it easier to swap out gearing.

I would highly recommend using the eliminator...

 

[moparnation74]

Her ya go PB...
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/the-lowdown-on-carbon-fiber-driveshafts-from-qa1/

#6 image

 

[91r/t]

PurpleBeeper, if you have a kickass impact, it may pop the nut off the yoke without spinning on ya. My SnapOn will usually spin **** off without spinning the ring with the monster torque it has. If not, same as Moparnation74 showed in that pic, I was gonna suggest a steering wheel puller like that pic showed. Gotta be some way to rig up a couple bolts through one and use it to yank the yoke off.

 

[moparnation74]

PurpleBeeper, if you have a kickass impact, it may pop the nut off the yoke without spinning on ya. My SnapOn will usually spin **** off without spinning the ring with the monster torque it has. If not, same as Moparnation74 showed in that pic, I was gonna suggest a steering wheel puller like that pic showed. Gotta be some way to rig up a couple bolts through one and use it to yank the yoke off.

Take a strap bolt and venture to the hardware store and get the right length and size bolt for the puller...

A good bracket to buy versus using a wrench to keep the yoke spinning if it does...Is the one from Mancini...One of those inexpensive tools you will use rarely but very handy when needed...Versus a large monkey/adjustable wrench against your body, lol...

http://www.manciniracing.com/yoinreto.html

Pricey...but me and a few friends chipped in on this and share it...cost us 50 bucks each and well worth that

http://www.doctordiff.com/differential-carrier-bearing-puller.html

 

[Cranky]

My impact is only a 1/2 drive but kicks pretty decently. Place the chunk on a bench up side down (the flat part of the housing bolt flange on top is now on the bench). I just rest the yoke on a block of wood and go after it with the impact. That does the trick. What gear is in the 89 now and does it have a SG limited slip in it now?

 

[493 Mike]

Here's a little tip for you fellas using crush sleeves: just add a .010-.015" shim under the front pinion bearing and recrush the sleeve a little more. It works fine and saves money.
Mike

 

[Daves69]

Measure the WAF (width across flats) of the nut. Read this page........
http://www.doctordiff.com/pinion-nut-and-washer.html

Per that page this would be a 10 spline..............

 

[Cranky]

Here's a little tip for you fellas using crush sleeves: just add a .010-.015" shim under the front pinion bearing and recrush the sleeve a little more. It works fine and saves money.
Mike

You divulged one of my secrets! lol Actually, I usually file 13 crush sleeves and go with a solid spacer. Years ago when they were first offered, they were too long and had to be machined shorter but I 'think' that has been addressed. Been a few years since I've done one....