Need serious help to correctly reassemble my differential after wanting to install a new pinion oil seal.
Summary: 6 months into a total restoration of Elan S4 SE. Diff. out of car. Lotus axles, oil seals, bearings, and back case removed and cleaned, ready to reinstall with new seals and bearings. (see photo)
Problem: I removed the pinion flange, old pinion oil seal and crush washer without marking and counting rotations of the pinion nut so I can’t reuse the old crush washer and get back to the original pinion preload by returning everything back to the way it was before I changed the pinion oil seal. (major screwup!! )
I have a new crush washer and need experienced advice as to how to properly reassemble the differential, beginning with the pinion… new crush washer… new oil seal… setting the appropriate pinion preload at the flang e.
How do I calculate what the total preload showing at the pinion flange should be? General British Ford diffs call for 10-13 lb.in. preload if using original bearings, + new crush washer + new oil seal. How much additional preload should I add at the flange measurement for the resistance of the crownwheel bearings preload? (I don’t want to disassemble the crownwheel and bearings etc. because they were perfec t.)
After I have installed and set the new total pinion preload at the flange, I assume I will need to recheck the pinion to crown wheel backlash and meshing etc.
I know how to take it from there to reinstall the back case, axle oils seals, bearings and axles back into the diff.
I want to do this right while I have a bare chassis to install the diff. into so I don’t have to wrestle with it after the body is back on the chassis because I did something wrong.
