2000 Chevrolet Blazer - Differential Crush Sleeve

What is a Differential Crush Sleeve?

A differential crush sleeve, also known as a pinion crush sleeve, is a component in a vehicle's differential assembly that is used to maintain proper tension and pre-load on the pinion bearings when the pinion gear nut is tightened. Appropriate pre-load on the pinion gear nut is important to the performance and longevity of the differential, as it helps to keep the gears properly engaged with one another and operating smoothly. If this nut is over-tightened during reassembly, it could result in the crush sleeve breaking down and failing prematurely. There may be an issue with your differential crush sleeve if there is a whining sound that gets louder when you accelerate your vehicle. Differential crush sleeves are typically replaced whenever the differential assembly is disassembled and reassembled. Reusing a crush sleeve is generally not recommended as it deforms by design during the initial installation. If your differential needs to be repaired or rebuilt, replacing the crush sleeve is also advised. For your next differential repair, shop O'Reilly Auto Parts, where we carry replacement crush sleeves, ring and pinion sets, and differential assemblies for most vehicles.