Inner Differential Rust

[ReconDaddy]

Lesson for today, if I think it will only take a few hours, it's going to take a few days! I am in the process of replacing bearings and seal on the front diff. I spent the afternoon cleaning the grim out from inside the diff. After I got it cleaned, I noticed a lot of rust inside both short and long sides. Not sure if there is enough rust to cause problems down the road?

Where inner seal goes on short side.

[ReconDaddy]

Not sure the picture came through

[68shortwide]

Huh. Never personally seen inside diff rust. Interesting.

[ReconDaddy]

Is that a bad thing?

[ReconDaddy]

Inside long and short side is rusted.

[kwmech]

It's normal, the tubes catch moisture and grime after several years. You can scrub them out with some rags and a healthy dose of brake clean and a piece of pipe or long screw driver. You do want to be careful when you slide the shafts back in, so that the end of the shafts don't pick up the crap and push it into the seal surface

[ReconDaddy]

Thank you, good to know. Do the 6 nuts that hold the spindle on need to be replaced? They look like lock nuts but I am able to thread by hand.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by ReconDaddy

Thank you, good to know. Do the 6 nuts that hold the spindle on need to be replaced? They look like lock nuts but I am able to thread by hand.

Not a bad idea to replace, but you can also tighten them down with a drop or 2 of loctite

[ReconDaddy]

I will pick up new ones when I get seals and bearings.