QU10868 AAM 10.5" and 11.5" Rear Axle Pinion Seal for Ram and GM

QU10868 Premium Quality AAM 10.5" and 11.5" Rear Axle Pinion Seal for 2500 and 3500 series Dodge, Ram, and GM is a premium quality, genuine AAM original equipment hydrodynamic quadruple lip seal for 2003-2013 Ram 2500  trucks equipped with the AAM 1050 10-1/2" Ring Gear or AAM 1150 11.5" Ring Gear 14 Bolt Rear Axles plus all 2003-2012 and some 2013-2017 Ram 3500 trucks with the AAM 1150 11.5" rear axle. QU10868 also fits 2001-up Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 series trucks with the AAM 1150 11-1/2" Ring Gear 14 Bolt full floating rear axles. This great seal features a flared deflector lip, outer wiper lip to exclude dust and contaminants, and twin molded hydrodynamic inner lips to keep your diff oil in the axle. Flanged design stops Seal at the correct depth simplifying installation, plus the rubber sealing ring around the shell case prevents oil seepage between the axle housing and seal. Seal lips are prelubed at the factory.

*In 2013, Chrysler started changing their rear axle housings, so you NEED TO MEASURE THE O.D. of your Pinion Seal before ordering! Chrysler used either in their 2013 and up Rams. If your Pinion Seal O.D. is 4-5/16", A560741 is the correct Pinion Seal. If your Pinion Seal O.D. is 3.53", you will need QU10868 Pinion Seal.

Need More Info? Use the handy Links below to access over 40 years of Dan's product and vehicle specific Tech Notes to easily get the information you need for your vehicle's repair, maintenance, or upgrade project!

Dan the Gear Man® Tech Notes:
Pinion Seal Size Options 
Lubricate
Wear Sleeve
Common Failures
Crush Sleeve
Ram Torque
GM Torque
Matching Parts
Included with These Kits
Applications

Tech Note 1: Pinion Seal Size Options
QU10868 has an approximate outside diameter of 3.53" and an ID of 2-3/8". Effective with the 2013 model year for Ram, AAM used two non-interchangeable pinion seals for the AAM 11.5" Rear Axle. Some axles will use QU10868, but most axles will use A560741 Seal which has an approximate outside diameter of 4.3" and an inside diameter of 2-11/16". Verify your seal diameter before ordering!

Tech Note 2: Lubricate
Both the inner Seal Lips and Pinion Yoke hub must be lubricated with a film of clean grease to provide initial lubrication. QU10868 new pinion seal has a factory lubricated seal lip to provide initial lubrication of the seal. If the lube gets contaminated or is missing, clean the lip apply clean grease before installing the pinion flange on the axle!

Tech Note 3: Wear Sleeve
Always replace the pinion seal and wear sleeve at the same time. If you experiencing a pinion seal leak, chances are both the seal and wear sleeve are worn or damaged. The AAM 1050 (Dodge Ram) and 1150 Dodge Ram, GM) Rear Axles use a factory two piece pinion sealing system that includes a replaceable wear sleeve on the pinion flange that generally eliminates the need to ever replace your pinion flange to solve an oil leak. On these axles, you replace the inexpensive yoke wear sleeve along with your pinion seal.

Tech Note 4: Common Failures
Many pinion seal leaks are caused by pressure building in the axle due to a clogged axle vent system. Always check and clear the vent system. Other common causes of seal failure are installation errors, incorrect pinion bearing preload (too tight or too loose), not lubricating the seal lip and yoke with clean grease, and object damage such as getting grass wrapped around the Pinion Yoke.

Tech Note 5: Crush Sleeve
Your AAM rear axle uses a collapsible spacer or crush sleeve to set pinion rotating torque. To accurately set pinion rotating preload, you should replace your old crush sleeve with a new one when you replace the pinion seal.

Tech Note 6: Ram Torque
For Dodge Ram, Pinion Rotating Torque should be measured with a beam or gauge type inch pound torque wrench. To get an accurate torque reading, you should remove the axle shafts as the drag from your wheel bearings and brakes will adversely affect your results. The rotating torque values listed in my Dodge Ram Shop Manuals are:
Pinion Only Torque to Rotate with NEW Bearings (Diff out of axle): 15-25 lb in (1.69-2.82 Nm)
Pinion Only Torque to Rotate with USED Bearings (Diff out of axle): 10-20 lb in (1-2 Nm)
Total Torque to Rotate with NEW Bearings (Diff in axle): 30-50 lb in (3.4-5.6 Nm)
Total Torque to Rotate with USED Bearings (Diff in axle): 25-45 lb in (2.8-5.1 Nm)
Rotate the pinion several times to seat the bearings before taking a final reading

Tech Note 7: GM Torque
For GM, Pinion Rotating Torque should be measured with a beam or gauge type inch pound torque wrench. To get an accurate torque reading, you should remove the axle shafts as the drag from your wheel bearings and brakes will adversely affect your results. The rotating torque values listed in my GM Shop Manuals are:
Pinion Only Torque to Rotate with NEW Bearings (Diff out of axle): 15-30 lb in (1.7-3.4 Nm)
Pinion Only Torque to Rotate with USED Bearings (Diff out of axle): 10-20 lb in (1.1-2.3 Nm)
Total Torque to Rotate with NEW Bearings (Diff in axle): 30-55 lb in (3.4-6.2 Nm)
Total Torque to Rotate with USED Bearings (Diff in axle): 25-45 lb in (2.8-5.1 Nm)
Rotate the pinion several times to seat the bearings before taking a final reading

Tech Note 8: Matching Parts
Matching Parts for QU10868 Pinion Seal:
QU10877 Pinion Nut
QU10876 Pinion Washer
QU50746 Pinion Preload Spacer (Crush Sleeve) Dodge AAM 10-1/2" Rear Axle
QU10867 Pinion Preload Spacer (Crush Sleeve) Dodge or GM AAM 11-1/2" Rear Axle
QU30108 Axle Shaft Flange Gasket GM 2001-2010
QU30116 Axle Shaft Flange Gasket GM 2011-up
QU10847 Axle Shaft Flange Gasket for Dodge
QU50745 Diff Cover Gasket for GM
QU11125 Diff Cover Gasket for 10.5" Dodge Ram
QU11042 Diff Cover Gasket for 11.5" Dodge Ram
QU50731 Rear Pinion Flange for Dodge Ram

Tech Note 9: Included with These Kits
Kits that include QU10868 Pinion Seal:
TK8026 10.5" Differential and Pinion Bearing and Seal Kit
QK8007 10.5" Pinion Seal Kit
QK8016 11.5 Differential Install and Small Parts Kit
QK8008 11.5 Pinion Seal Kit

Applications

Chevy and GMC:
Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 trucks with 10.5 Full Float Rear Axles: 1998-up
Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 trucks with 11.5" Full Float Rear Axles: 2001-up

Dodge, Ram, and Sterling:
Ram 2500 with AAM 1050 OR AAM 1150 Leaf Spring Rear Axles: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Ram 3500 All: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Ram 3500 with AAM 1150 11-1/2"Rear Axle and 3.53" OD Seal: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018