Go ahead, say "Differential Yoke Torque Tool" fast 5 times. I double dog dare ya.
I just saved myself some cash and thought folks here might be interested to know how. I've been planning on using part of my Christmas holidays to do a rebuild on the 8 inch Equa-Lock differential unit in my '67 Mustang. It has been making some bearing noises for a while now so I bought a rebuild kit with new bearings and clutches back in November and wanted to spend the holidays working on it.
Now, it has been a long time since I have rebuilt a diff and this was my first "posi" unit so I figure the odds are good that I will need to buy a new tool (or tools) at some point during the project. It never fails, so why should this time be any different? Whoops. It's the holidays. I spent my money on Christmas presents for my good little boy, my good little girl and my naughty little wife
So there's no room at the inn for new tools.
Of course I'm looking forward to working on this during the holidays so I say to myself, "Self, you should have everything you need, you've been buying tools since 1980 for crying out loud. You want to get this done don't you? Go for it". OK, I convinced me. So there I am with all the old bearings and races pressed off and pressed back on, (yeah, I've got a press) torque wrenches in hand, (both inch and foot lbs), dial indicator at the ready. Everything is cleaned up and I'm ready to start putting it back together starting with the pinion.
So far so good.
I'm putting the yoke back on the pinion when I realize I can't get the nut that holds the yoke on the pinion tightened. Why?
Because I dont have a blasted "Yoke Torque Tool"!! That's why. Maybe I could use my air gun. No dice. As Arnold would say, "not enoff oss".
Maybe the vice? Too awkward, cant get it to fit. No way. Time to start drinkin' and thinkin'. So I start searching the Internet. I Google "Yoke Torque Tool" and get a hit on an interesting looking contraption for 49.00 at an off-road web site.
Well I don't have the 49.00 bucks plus whatever they want for shipping but you know what? Just looking at that thing, I know I can make that!! So I did. OK, granted it's not as pretty but it works like a champ.
Here are the materials you will need along with some photos of how it works.
1- 3"x1/8"x2' steel plate. This label reads 4' but it was scrap and was cut in half. You can pick this stuff up at any Lowes or if you're like me you've got some laying around.
4 - 5/16 x 1.5" grade 5 or grade 8 bolts and matching nuts. I used grade 8 but 5's will probably work fine.
1 - 1.5" hole saw
Simply create a template as to where the 4 - 5/16'" bolt holes need to be drilled in the plate. This can be done by placing a piece of cardboard or paper over the yoke and marking the holes then transferring those markings to the steel plate. Mark the plate accordingly and drill the 4 bolt holes.
Then take a straight edge and scribe a line from the center of the upper left bolt hole to the lower right bolt hole and from the center of the upper right bolt hole to the lower left bolt hole. You will now have an X scribed on the plate. Use the hole saw and drill at the center of the X. You will have this.
If you measured right you should be able to bolt the plate to the yoke. Then clamp the lip of the center section in the vice like so.
Place your breaker bar and pipe extension on the pinion nut and start cranking. Make sure that the ring gear and diff unit is out of the center section when you are setting pinion pre-load. Check your specs to be sure but you'll probably be looking for about 24-25 inch lbs with new bearings and about 15 inch lbs for used. Dont forget your crush collar and seal. Go slow and constantly check the pre-load with the torque wrench and by turning the pinion by hand. Dont exceed torque specs or you will wind up having to change out the crush collar because you cant just back it off.
Also, in order to get accurate readings you need to unbolt your snazzy new tool before checking your torque readings.
As the old saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. This works like a champ and will save you some coin. My backlash is set, I have excellent drive and coast patterns on the ring gear and I'm ready to pop it back in the car! Best of all, now I have 49.00 bucks to spend on beer!!
Today
Re: The Cheap Guys Differential Yoke Torque Tool
