87IROCZ350TPI

I recently received some crush sleeves that I ordered from Ratech and have a question about the size. First, I have a 3.27 BW 9-Bolt in an 87 iroc. The sleeve is part# 3101 from Ratech. When I put it on the pinion, it was VERY loose on the shaft, like a ring too large for your finger. My old sleeve was very snug on the shaft of the pinion, but I don't know if they come like that new or if they become that way with use. Either way, how do they typically fit when they are first installed, snug, loose, or does it matter? Thanks for any help you can provide.

Casey Butt

Keep in mind that your old sleeve tightened up when the pinion nut was torqued down and crushed it to produce the desired torque spec on the pinion. The same thing will also happen to your new sleeve when you torque the pinion nut down as well. Usually, they slide onto the pinion shaft easily, loosely, but if it's really loose - as in way too big for the pinion shaft - then they might have given you the wrong sleeve.

87IROCZ350TPI

I was hoping that was the case. It's not huge, just loose. It's not so big that it slides over the next level of shaft thickness. But you're saying loose is normal, right? Thanks in advance.

Casey Butt

That's right. When you tighten down the pinion nut you crush the sleeve and it tightens up. You tighten the pinion nut until things get tight enough that it takes a specified amount of torque to turn the pinion yoke. I don't know what that is for a 9-bolt off the top of my head, but it's usually around 25-30 in-lbs for new bearings and 10 in-lbs for used bearings (or something close to those ranges). So the crush sleeve doesn't have to be tight when you first slip it on the pinion shaft. If there was anything wrong with your sleeve you probably wouldn't be able to get the right torque spec on the pinion when you tighten the nut down.

87IROCZ350TPI

Thanks a lot for the info. I'll put this thing back together this week. Just for reference in case anyone reads this thread, the 9-bolt specs are 12-15 in lbs for new bearings and 6-7 in lbs for used. Thanks again, man, you really helped me out.

spartyon

My advice, as just coming off a rebuild, have a buddy with you to help tighten that pinion nut. It will be really hard to do it yourself. You could use an impact but I have heard that you might tighten it too much and have to start over with a new sleeve. I had to get help and it was a major pia with 2 of us.

87IROCZ350TPI

Thanks, man, that's what I thought I would have to do last time, but I devised a method that worked well for me. It was still a pain in the ***, but with some effort I was able to torque it down sufficiently.