Do you need to get a new Pinion nut after each time you remove it. I had to repair the pinion seal and ready to tighten it down. I know on fords it is recommended but not sure on GM. also what would be the torque spec on the nut as well as the cover bolts on a 12 bolt.

 

A good idea to replace it, but you can clean and use blue loctite. There isn't a torque spec per se, because you tighten it until the crush sleeve is compressed enough to give the desired preload on the pinion bearings. The short cut if not disassembling the rear is to mark the pinion stem, pinion nut, and companion flange with paint and reassemble just as taken apart, and tighten the nut just a hair further than it was before.

 

Peen/punch the nuts into the pinion threads This will guarentee the nut will not back off under hard torque accellertion bursts (burn outs...lol.) Jim

Good luck.