I need to do the rear pinion seal on my 8.25 can i just mark the yoke an pull it off with out effecting the crush sleve

 

you can pull it off without affecting it but it needs to be reinstalled correctly. It doesnt take much to over torque the crush sleeve. You may also need a puller to get the yolk off. I had to hammer the pinion out to get the yolk off (while installing gears) a 2 jaw would be perfect.
reinstall it and just go very slow, pull the yolk in and out and tighten it very carefully until there is no play in the pinion.
what I do it tighten it until all the play is gone but there is no additional resistance to turn the pinion, I consider this 0 lash 0 preload. From there I very slowly tighten the nut until I can just feel a difference in preload turning the pinion. which is usually maybe a 1/16 or less of a turn.
Make sure to use a new pinion nut and some locktite. the nut isnt really torqued so thats what you are relying on to keep it tight.

 

thats what i thought i was just makin sure thank you!

 

I did my seal last year. I scribed a mark on the end of the shaft and onto the nut. When reinstalling the nut I went about 1/8" PAST the mark to insure proper preload.

The reason why my pinion seal was leaking? It was a D35 seal on an 8.25 axle. No, I didn't do it. When the PO put gears in, his mechanic did it.

 

The proper way is to measure your turning torque before disassembly, then making sure you reach that same turning torque when you reassemble.