How should a crush sleeve fit on the pinion shaft? The one that I received from a vendor seems awfully loose (you could fit the tip of a pretty good sized flat-head screwdriver in there next to the shaft.) It seems that they should fit fairly close to the shaft so they would crush in a more regular, predictable fashion. It's for a 1970 Buick Wildcat with 9.375" open rear end.
ALL depends. We normally have to retro fit different crush sleeve to older rears as there ARE NON out there from the factory anymore. Like the 8.25 Buick has to have a different crush sleeve than stock as the originals are non existent anymore. As long as the crush sleeve does not impede into the bearing cage and only hits the bearing race on the outer bearing you are good. So take your crush sleeve and put it up against the outer pinion bearing and see if it fits inside the bearing cage. if the diameter is too large and does not fit you can not use it. the shaft will keep it center .... Also make sure if the pinion has a ledge that it has sufficent ledge to crush against with out being outside of the crush pinion ledge. IF it is a full length crush sleeve (example 12 bolt chevy 8.2 chevy ) they crush from inner bearing race to the outer pinion race. BOTH ends must not interfer with the bearing cages. That is your guide...Hope it helps.... OH and if you have to crush more than a 1/8" to 3/16" it probably is not right either. YOU can flat grid it down if it fits but you do not want to have to crush that much . Jim JD Race
