Yes...I drilled out the two spot welds on each side of the support and I simply used automotive flange self tapping bolts to reinstall it. I had to R&R that sucker 6 times because I had to R&R the fan and radiator a couple of times so I was glad I did not weld it back in. It does not appear to be a structural component...it just is there as a provision to bolt the forward radiator cover to.

I'll swing on over and help!!!

Bill

Super clear...THANKS Peter...big help

Thanks Peter,

So to clarify...tighten the pinion nut by hand until it feels like it has bottomed out the pinion to the ring gear (no forward or aft movement of the pinion shaft).

Then (this is the part that is unclear) tighten the pinion nut with a t wrench 1/4 turn then try to measure the pinion gear to ring gear mesh with a torque wrench and with the parking brake off, wheels off the ground, and no brake drag we are looking for 2 pound feet of torque.

If it is not 2 pound feet of torque then tighten pinion nut another 1/4 turn and then repeat until you (I) get 2 pound feet of torque.

So how do I determine if I have a Marsden nut or Hug-Lock nut?

THANKS AGAIN!!!

The pinion nut installation procedure in the Packard service manual assumes that the pinion is outside of the car. I do not intend on removing the rear axles and wish to simply replace the crush sleeve while the center section is still in the car.

Other than removing the brake drums I assume the two pound pool test would be applicable to the axle still being installed in the car?

I'm sure with all of the knowledge on this forum that somebody has done this while the center section is still in the rear axle assembly. Any tips or suggestions you might want to throw my way?

There must be a difference in the diameter of the trim rings as well. My dad's car is a super 8 and I bought 3 replacement trim rings for it however I found... after polishing them... that their diameter was too wide for the rim.

Anybody want to buy some pretty nice and recently polished trim rings?

Will give that a go and report back.

THANKS!!!

Bill

Thanks for the info Ross.

I replaced the pinion seal and although I marked the location of the pinion nut when I removed it I somehow lost the mark when reinstalling the pinion nut and therefore I could not return the pinion nut to the exact same spot so the preload is no longer correct. The rear axle was quiet before and not it makes noise.

Is there a way to correct this without having to replace the crush sleeve?

THANKS Ross!!!

Does anyone know if the rear axle pinion crush spacer can be replaced without removing the rear pinion seal?

I now have the spacer however since I do not have the car here I cannot see if the spacer can be replaced without removing the rear pinion seal. Hopefully I can simply remove the nut and pull the yoke off and then pull the spacer out with a needle nose pliers.

Since I do not want to commit my dads car to multiple weeks in the Packard Spa and Wellness Center (again) I am trying to plan accordingly...

Any tips or suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Bill

Howard...somehow I knew you would be the man to ask!!!

I noticed the price of the Autolite manual was 25 cents...what is that in today's money???

Priceless!!!!