The Ford Barn

Russell Reay · 05-12-2025, 01:16 PM

I just had the drive shaft shortened for my T5 conversion, and have needed to install and remove it with pinion attached a couple times. In the course of this exercise the big adjusting nut with punch location has been moved to the point that I don't dare install it again for fear of damaging the differential gear mesh. I am using a Mitchell pinion remove/ install tool. I think the bearing preload needs to be checked, but I have never done it. The red book describes the process, but presumes that the reader has a pile of loose parts. My pinion and bearings are all together in a big cluster with the two big nuts loose. Sorry, but operator deficiencies prevent photo attachment. How do I check the preload in this situation?

05-12-2025, 01:16 PM	#1
Russell Reay Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: NH/ VT Posts: 460	Pinion bearing preload I just had the drive shaft shortened for my T5 conversion, and have needed to install and remove it with pinion attached a couple times. In the course of this exercise the big adjusting nut with punch location has been moved to the point that I don't dare install it again for fear of damaging the differential gear mesh. I am using a Mitchell pinion remove/ install tool. I think the bearing preload needs to be checked, but I have never done it. The red book describes the process, but presumes that the reader has a pile of loose parts. My pinion and bearings are all together in a big cluster with the two big nuts loose. Sorry, but operator deficiencies prevent photo attachment. How do I check the preload in this situation?