Q: How to replace a pinion seal in a Oldsmobile Cutlass?
A: Place the vehicle over an inspection pit or raise the rear end to provide adequate working clearance. Disconnect the driveshaft and tie it to the body sideframe. Using a torque wrench, check the torque required to rotate the pinion and record this for use later. Scribe or dot punch alignment marks on the pinion stem, nut, and flange so that they can be refitted in the same relative position. Count the number of threads visible between the end of the nut and the end of the pinion stem and record for use later. A suitable tool must now be used to hold the pinion flange quite still while the self-locking pinion nut is removed. Unscrew and remove the pinion nut. Withdraw the companion flange using a two or three-legged extractor engaged behind the flange. Pry out the old seal and discard it. Lubricate the lips of a new seal with extreme pressure lithium-based grease and tap it into position. Align the mating marks made before dismantling and install the companion flange. Smear a non-hardening jointing compound on the ends of the splines visible in the center of the companion flange. Install the thrust-washer and nut, but tighten the nut carefully so that the original number of threads is exposed. Measure the torque required to rotate the pinion and tighten the nut fractionally until the figure compares with that recorded before dismantling. In order to compensate for the drag of the new oil seal, the nut should be further tightened so that the rotational torque of the pinion exceeds that recorded before dismantling by between 1 and 5 lbf-in. Reconnect the driveshaft, install the brake drum and wheel, and lower the vehicle.