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Classic/Antique Car Repair/1950 dodge pinion seal
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Question
Hello my 1950 dodge coronet has a leaking pinion seal on the rear axle. After i removed the drive shaft and the cotter pin from the retaining nut and blocking the wheels the nut will not come off. I even took a propane torch and heated it is the thread on the shaft reverse thread meaning right loose not left loose
thanks
It should be a right hand thread but it was torqued to 150 plus foot pounds. As such it need a long breaker bar and the wheels firmly held from turning. Back in the day we were known to use a floor jack under the end of a pipe over the breaker bar to get enough force to break the pinion nut loose. Before you remove the nut use a center punch to mark the nut and the end of the pinion shaft for alignment. Then count the number of turns removing the nut. After replacing the seal thread the nut on the same number of turns and until the center punch marks line up. That way you will not have change the pinion setting and pre-load.
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Answers by Expert:
Brad Sears
Expertise
All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.
Experience
Automotive tech instructor.
Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's.
Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's
TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated.
Auto instructor for the following companies:
Fram
Autolyte
Holly
Carter
AMF
Ford Motor
University Of Conn
Blue Hills Technical School
Sugar River Technical Center
Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.
Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.
Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember.
Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.
Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.
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