Differential Leak

[Austin]

Leaky diffs get expensive when gear oil is running over $6/quart. Therefore in diving in. Hopefully ordering parts this afternoon. I want to make sure my understanding of the procedure is correct. I am planning to pull the yoke off, re-sleeve. I'm guessing the old seal will pull out with a screw driver? Then put the new seal on and put it all back together. Same procedure at all 4 points?

[bretto]

There are as many ways to remove a seal as there are goofy oil filter wrenches.  A simple way is to drive a screw into the metal seal face and pull it out.  Or just hammer a screw driver thru it and pry it out.
I like to put some sealant on the outer edge of the seal just before it gets seated all the way.  Then put sealant on the splines of the shafts to seal the shaft yoke union.  To do this, I normally just get the yoke to just where it it's almost bottomed out then put sealant on the washer, place the washer on then put the nut on and tighten it down.  That way it doesn't put a lot of sealant down in the splines and only seals the end where you need it.

Remember, cleanliness is your friend in doing this job.

[athawk11]

Remember, cleanliness is your friend in doing this job.

Good advice.  Clean sealant surfaces thoroughly with brake cleaner.

But lube the "seal to yoke" surface with a light coat of your favorite grease.

You can pick up a typical seal puller (with a claw on each side) at your local auto parts store.  $7-$9.00  This style puller actually works pretty well in this location. 

Tim

[macrisel]

You may also want to check the yoke itself and make sure it does not have a groove worn it it.  If it does, bite the bullet and buy a Speedi-Sleeve for it also.  If you don't fix it now, you will probably still have a leak (been there, done that  )

[bretto]

buy a Speedi-Sleeve for it

I am planning to pull the yoke off, re-sleeve.

 

[Austin]

I ordered a sleeve, national brand, along with a oil seal from carquest on saturday. It came in today, cost $35. From what I found, I could buy a new yoke for $44 but it would be some chinese garbage. So far, I have managed to keep all the chinese stuff off my 3a, and im not about to start. The national sleeve and oil seal are both made in the USA.

[dat]

You may also want to check the yoke itself and make sure it does not have a groove worn it it.� If it does, bite the bullet and buy a Speedi-Sleeve for it also.� If you don't fix it now, you will probably still have a leak (been there, done that� )

how far worn will a speedi sleeve work on?  my yokes are worn well into, not just visible but worn into an hourglass, was looking at new yokes but had forgotten about sleeves, been 25 years since I've used one

[macrisel]

Not sure on the maximum allowed gap a speedi sleeve would cover.  If I tried it, I would fill the gap with JB Weld or something so the sleeve would have something to ride against instead of open air.  Now that I think about it, I believe that is what I did on my yoke with only a small groove worn in it..

[bretto]

They should be fine.  It's not like they have hard pressure on them, it's just the rubber seal riding on it.

[Austin]

I got the sleeve and new oil seal installed. That was a very simple job. I'm glad I didn't wait any longer. Its nice not having to smell gear oil burning on my muffler.

[athawk11]

 [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

This is always a high reward--low downside task.  Glad it went well.

Tim

[Ryan_289]

I resleeved one on my 48 that I messed up.  I ended up finding an NOS rear yoke on ebay that worked great.