so can i tighten the pinion nut to 160 ft lbs. and be done with it or do i have to do all the other little stuff like perload?

 

I tightened mine to 160 a year ago and it has worked out well. Just use a good torque wrench.

 

I'm getting ready to install my JE reel shafts also, if I can get my caster right. See post "Need help adjusting my caster"...haha. I have an in. lb. torque wrench but its not like the one they use in the instructions therefore I'm not sure it will work to check the force required to rotate the pinion. If it doesn't work I was going to torque the nut to 160 and call it good. Do u think I will encounter any problems doing this? I have 1500 miles on it so its still pretty new. I think everything in the diff is still pretty tight. That's my logic on the 160lbs of torque being sufficient for the preload torque. If it had a significant amount of miles on it I could understand why it may require more than 160lbs.

 

see ive got 80k on my jeep but i have new gears and everything, im actually replacing a broke 1310 with a 1350 and idk i think 160 will be good seeing all the other posts.. but dont listen to me cause i dont know first hand what im talking about. hahaha