Rear Pinion Seal

[Charlie207]

I noticed a small stream from the pinion seal when I drained/refilled the rear-diff fluid the other day. It's the first time I've noticed the pinion wet, and I'm confident it's recent.

I just watched a seal replacement video, and it didn't look too tricky. I just need to buy a seal puller to have all the tools. Is there anything else I should look at while I'm there, like just replacing the rear u-joint as proactive maintenance?

 

[rdezs]

I wouldn't do just the rear u joint.... I would do them both. When you pull the yoke out, take a close look at the seal contact area. You might be wanting to replace that if you can feel the groove where the seal was rubbing.

 

[Charlie207]

I wouldn't do just the rear u joint.... I would do them both. When you pull the yoke out, take a close look at the seal contact area. You might be wanting to replace that if you can feel the groove where the seal was rubbing.

Sorry if my wording was confusting... I was planning to replace the pinion seal. I'm asking if there is anything else I should replace proactively while I'm there? Sounds like both driveshaft u-joints should be replaced. This seems reasonable, as I've never replaced them in my ownership.

Anything else?

 

[Geotrash]

Sorry if my wording was confusting... I was planning to replace the pinion seal. I'm asking if there is anything else I should replace proactively while I'm there? Sounds like both driveshaft u-joints should be replaced. This seems reasonable, as I've never replaced them in my ownership.

Anything else?

It's worth looking at the pinion bearings and noting any pitting you can see visually or with a finger. If either are pitted, they should be replaced as well, but that's a whole other can of worms.

Edit: After I wrote that I remembered that the opinion will still be in the differential so you won't be able to see the bearing surfaces. Also, I would first check the u-joints for play. If there is none, I would leave them alone.

 

[j91z28d1]

if you have access to even a cheap air. hammer it will make pushing the yoke, if that's the right name, off. they can be tight and I don't like smacking the ears with a hammer to beat it off.

also my 2 cents is never touch a driveshaft that's not vibrating. I've never had u joints come out of newer gm shafts without damaging it. even when paying a machine shop do it. Just replace the whole thing when they show signs of worn out

 

[rdezs]

Just did all the u-joints on my wife's 2014 Escalade about 3 months ago. I think it had about 170,000 at the time. Still had a little grease in the bearing cups, but not much.

Just make sure you melt out all of the plastic retainer, and then let it completely cool down before pressing out the u-joints with the proper tool and you won't have any damage to the ears.

 

[2017sltXL]

Sorry if my wording was confusting... I was planning to replace the pinion seal. I'm asking if there is anything else I should replace proactively while I'm there? Sounds like both driveshaft u-joints should be replaced. This seems reasonable, as I've never replaced them in my ownership.

Anything else?

I just did the pinion seal on my 17 a few days ago. Not a fan of whacking on the yoke to remove it either, but I know it's the way some guys do it
I used something like this

Amazon.com: OEMTOOLS 25258 5 Inch Timing Gear and Pulley Puller, Tool For Pulling Timing Gear & Any Other Tool with Tapped Holes, Such as Crank Shaft Gears & Pulleys : Automotive

Amazon.com: OEMTOOLS 25258 5 Inch Timing Gear and Pulley Puller, Tool For Pulling Timing Gear & Any Other Tool with Tapped Holes, Such as Crank Shaft Gears & Pulleys : Automotive

www.amazon.com

Not uncommon to end up using a screwdriver or chisel to get under the lip of the seal to start it, they can be stubborn and a seal puller won't always be enough to get them out without a little help. Just me mindful of the lip of the seal surface.

And be sure to get that pinion nut back to where it was when you took it off or your preload my be messed up.

 

[Charlie207]

I just did the pinion seal on my 17 a few days ago. Not a fan of whacking on the yoke to remove it either, but I know it's the way some guys do it
I used something like this

Amazon.com: OEMTOOLS 25258 5 Inch Timing Gear and Pulley Puller, Tool For Pulling Timing Gear & Any Other Tool with Tapped Holes, Such as Crank Shaft Gears & Pulleys : Automotive

Amazon.com: OEMTOOLS 25258 5 Inch Timing Gear and Pulley Puller, Tool For Pulling Timing Gear & Any Other Tool with Tapped Holes, Such as Crank Shaft Gears & Pulleys : Automotive

www.amazon.com

Not uncommon to end up using a screwdriver or chisel to get under the lip of the seal to start it, they can be stubborn and a seal puller won't always be enough to get them out without a little help. Just me mindful of the lip of the seal surface.

And be sure to get that pinion nut back to where it was when you took it off or your preload my be messed up.

Yeah, I was watching this video on the procedure, and it looked pretty straight-forward.