pinion problem

[low80c10]

got an 80 c10 with a 10 bolt rear end did a flip kit on it and blew a pinion seal .... replaced it and it still leaks ,i am guessing its because of the way my angle is. how can this be fixed

[N2TRUX]

It sounds like you may have a worn pinion bearing. If you have bad pinion angle, you will get drive-line shudder, or vibration. I guess it could cause a seal to blow, but I don't think that is the problem.

Anyone else have similar experience?

[LONGHAIR]

If you have the pinion tilted upward far enough, you will have lube problems to the front pinion bearing, which will also burn-up the seal. I have seen this done. The pinion was not only "high and dry" the lube level was too low because the "Fill plug" was tilted down at the same time. Of course this will vary from axle to axle, some have the hole by the pinon, others in the rear cover.
Tilting the housing is bad for the drive shaft too. It makes the u-joint angles differ from front to rear. This can cause drive shaft vibrations. I have seen them tilted to the point that the rear u-joint had no angularity at all. The thinking was that the higher the pinion was tilted, the less angle there was on the front u-joint....which is true, but? It doesn't work out as well as the "thinking" wanted it to. The u-joint angles need to be a equal as possible and they have to have some angle to operate properly. The needle bearings will beat-up the cross and the cap if they cannot roll.

[N2TRUX]

While everything you state is 100% correct, I don't feel it applies in this case.

If the only change made to his pinion angle was a off the shelf flip kit, it should not create enough of an adverse pinion angle to cause a problem.

[LONGHAIR]

The OP mentioned the pinion angle and I kinda forgot which forum I was in. I was thinking more along the lines of a shackle flip for more lift (4x4 area) when indeed he is probably talking about lowering with an axle flip kit of a 2 wheel drive.
In that case, you are totally correct. An off of the shelf flip kit would have little or now effect on this at all.....purely coincidence that it happended at the same time.


I guess my first thought is, are you sure that the seal you installed is correct? Could it have been damaged during the install? Is the seal surface of the yoke in good condition? Did you wipe a little lube on the seal lip before installing the yoke?

[low80c10]

seal is fine ...i am thinking that the pinion bearing is worn but i do have a vibration at 25 mph. once i get to 30-35 it goes away

[N2TRUX]

LWB or SWB? One piece driveshaft or two?

[low80c10]

swb 1 piece driveshaft

[N2TRUX]

If you have a low speed vibration it could be from U-joints, pinion bearing, pinion angle or a combination of all.

When did this start? Was it after the flip kit?

[low80c10]

yeah it started after the flip ........going to put it back to stock till i can bagg it