Pinion set up

[keith808]

So Just a quick question but I will tell you what I have done.
1962 c10 long bed stock 10 bolt differential 1/2 ton
Took apart my rear end for powder coating and reassembling with new bearings and new seal.
I set the preload at 20 inch pounds with a rotational torque wrench.
Set in the carrier and adjusted the mark until it was centered perfectly on the ring gear with the yellow paint. Tightened the end caps to proper torque based on service manual. Seems like everything is right but I feel the new pinion nut should be tighter??? I have read a lot of the forums here and they say you need to tighten it until you can not tighten any more with 1/2 inch ratchet. I saw them saying 200- 400 foot pounds. I do not see the service manual saying to do that. can anyone tell me if that needs to be done???
Thank you

[Accelo]

Tap the pinion in the axial direction with a rubber hammer. See if it moves at all. I have run across pinions that hit the rotation torque without the bearings coming together.

"you need to tighten it until you can not tighten any more with 1/2 inch ratchet"

Where did that come from? LOL. I have a SnapOn 1/2' breaker bar and an 18inch extension for it. With a new crush sleeve, (assuming you used new) it take 300 to 400 ft lbs of force to crush the new sleeve. I mean the breaker bar has a nice arc to it when the nut is close to set.
Cheers.

[keith808]

Thanks Accelo
so if there is movement tighten until there is none?
I don't have to worry about the 200- 400 foot pounds I read about on some threads?
Thanks

btw backlash is between .005-.008