Pinion Flange Holding Tool - Ford GM Dana AMC Yoke Wrench

This is a flat stainless steel plate that bolts onto the pinion companion flange (the yoke) and locks it against rotation while you crack loose or final-torque the pinion nut. Several slotted bolt patterns are cut into the plate so it lines up with the flange holes on most Ford, GM, Dana, and AMC pinion and companion flanges. It has two 1/2 inch square seats and one 3/4 inch seat for a breaker bar or torque wrench, plus an extra 1/2 inch square socket for tight spots.

You reach for it any time the pinion nut has to come off or go back on: pinion seal replacement, setting or checking bearing preload, or a full third-member rebuild. That nut is torqued well past what you can hold by hand or with a strap wrench, and letting the yoke spin gets you nowhere. Bolt the plate to the flange, brace the breaker bar against the floor, a frame rail, or the ground, and the whole pinion stays put while you work the nut.

The slotted pairs cover the common car and light-truck rear ends: Ford 7.5, 8.8, and 9 inch, Dana 30, 35, 44, and 60, GM 10 and 12 bolt, and AMC 20. On a few oversized or flange-style yokes, such as the AAM 11.5 or some late Ford flange yokes, the large slots may need to be opened up slightly with a die grinder to clear the flange, and a couple of washers behind the plate help seat a breaker bar fully. Stainless construction keeps the square drive seats from rounding out over repeated use.