8 1/4 rear assembly specs.

I am rebuilding my 8 1/4 rear end and had some questions I wanted to get cleared up. I am using a new set of Richmond Excel 3.55 Gears. And a motive gear complete rebuild kit with Koyo bearings.

I have installed the pinion with new bearings and crush sleeve and am trying to find out the correct spec for preload. Some posts I have read on here say 12-15 lbs of preload with new crush sleeve, and the factory manual I have says 20-35 inchs of preload with pinion tightened to 210 foot lbs. I fear I may have went a tad far up to 40 inch lbs and backed it off a tad and now its about 25 inch lbs but im not familiar with how easy it should turn as this is the first time I've attempted a rear end rebuild. I would also believe that means I may need a new crush sleeve.

My second question is about backlash, richmond calls for .007-.009 and factory calls for .006-.008 so should I aim for .008 or just shoot for anywhere within the richmond specs?

Lastly some posts are giving different specs than factor manual, but as far as the caps and hex adjusters, factory calls for 100 foot lbs on cap bolts and 70 foot lbs on hex bearing adjusters. This should be correct?

Thanks

new bearings should be 20 -25 inch pounds of preload -- since you over tightened the crush sleeve you have to replace it -- you cannot back the nut off to the required preload as your bearings will not be seated properly --- set the backlash at the Richmond spec --- the factory specs for the caps 100 ft/lbs and 70 ft/lbs for the spanners to set your backlash are correct

john-9 said:

new bearings should be 20 -25 inch pounds of preload -- since you over tightened the crush sleeve you have to replace it -- you cannot back the nut off to the required preload as your bearings will not be seated properly --- set the backlash at the Richmond spec --- the factory specs for the caps 100 ft/lbs and 70 ft/lbs for the spanners to set your backlash are correct

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I figured this with the crush sleeve so I already disassembled and ordered a new one. Now will the nut tighten to 210 and after that its just small turns to achieve preload?

once you install the new crush sleeve and are ready to set the preload -- forget about the nut torque --- tighten the nut down slowly until you contact the crush sleeve -- you should have some endplay on the pinion ( in and out movement ) -- now begin your tightening sequence slowly make say a half turn --check for any end play again -- if you have end play tighten the nut another say 1/2 turn -- what you want to do is continue in slow increments till you have zero end play -- now go slow 1/4 turn check you preload ,, if none another 1/4 turn ,, check preload,, you have to really sneak up on it as the preload builds say to 15 in/lbs you are very close --tighten in very small turns now and you should be able to nail it right on. ---- the nut torque will be set as you reach the desired preload .---- tightening to nut to crush the sleeve can take a good pull i use a 40 inch long 3/4 drive breaker bar with both hands and all i have to get some sleeves to crush.