Pinto Car Club of America

Should be a simple job to replace a leaking pinion seal, right? Yea, thats what I thought too!  :mad: The rear in my car came from a '69 Mustang, 289. Every 8" rear seal that I look up no matter what year or what kind of car it is in takes the same seal, a National # 8181na. Won't fit. Too big on the inside and too small on the outside diameter. None of the local parts stores can help. Here's what I have:
# on the lip of the old seal: 23002
inside dia. 1.800
outside dia. 2.622

Seal # 8181na
inside dia. 1.850
outside dia. 2.566
Anyone run into this or have any ideas?  ???

Make sure of the number on the seal. Then go buy that number [take the old seal with you in case the number is not stamped well and you are reading it wrong]. The numbering system is generic.

Try Ratech web Site for the Seal, They have a section of 8" ford kits and parts..

Pintosopher

I got my 8" seal from Rockauto.com.
You have to be careful when you remove and reinstall the yoke nut as the pinion bearings are preloaded with a crush sleeve. I heard a good way is to mark the location of the nut and yoke before you take them off. This way it goes back the way it came off. If you overtighten it, it could affect the bearing preload. I've known guys that have had no problems, but be aware that it's a possibility.

Quote from: pintosopher on February 11, 2010, 05:45:59 PM
Try Ratech web Site for the Seal, They have a section of 8" ford kits and parts..

Pintosopher

Tried www.ratech.com (http://www.ratech.com), went to some goofy site (???),  I've been to all kinds of seal companys on the net, chicago rawhide has a search function where you put in the size, the only thing that was close didn't have a lip on the outer edge. I did find a wear sleeve for the pinion, I may just have to put the old seal back in. Luckily I didn't damage it when I popped it out.