Need Advice - Leaking Front Differential (4 Viewers)

[Gordolordo]

I’ve got a leaking front differential. I’m pretty sure that the leak is coming from the bottom of the FIPG gasket that was put in there when I had lockers installed.

If I wanted to replace the gasket, how much of a job am I looking at ? Would I have to remove the wheels and pull the axles and everything in order to open up the housing and get that thing taken apart correctly? Or is it just a matter of unscrewing the damn thing and pulling it apart and putting in the new gasket?

 

[Fj80oregon]

I’ve got a leaking front differential. I’m pretty sure that the leak is coming from the bottom of the FIPG gasket that was put in there when I had lockers installed.

If I wanted to replace the gasket, how much of a job am I looking at ? Would I have to remove the wheels and pull the axles and everything in order to open up the housing and get that thing taken apart correctly? Or is it just a matter of unscrewing the damn thing and pulling it apart and putting in the new gasket?

Provide us with a couple good pics.

 

[Gordolordo]

Provide us with a couple good pics.

I’ve got no pictures. The dripping differential oil is on the very bottom of the housing and is dry everywhere else on the gasket except for the bottom. I’ve replaced the drain bolt and washer and those are both good.

The question is more a technical question about the process of removing the differential housing to put replace the gasket. Does this require removal of wheels and axles?

 

[Mark W]

I’ve got no pictures. The dripping differential oil is on the very bottom of the housing and is dry everywhere else on the gasket except for the bottom. I’ve replaced the drain bolt and washer and those are both good.

The question is more a technical question about the process of removing the differential housing to put replace the gasket. Does this require removal of wheels and axles?

Yes.

Mark...

 

[greentruck]

AA pic would be good,but I think he's talking about a leak at the bottom of the rear cover/pinion carrier? That would only require removal of the front driveshaft and the pinion bearing, etc. Then loosen all those hold-down nuts/?bolts? and then that cover/carrier casting will come off. Nothing internal to the diff itself would need to come off, I'd think, but has been a long time since I've had one of those open.

Makes me wonder if the locker install is still under warranty, though?

 

[Mark W]

AA pic would be good,but I think he's talking about a leak at the bottom of the rear cover/pinion carrier? That would only require removal of the front driveshaft and the pinion bearing, etc. Then loosen all those hold-down nuts/?bolts? and then that cover/carrier casting will come off. Nothing internal to the diff itself would need to come off, I'd think, but has been a long time since I've had one of those open.

Makes me wonder if the locker install is still under warranty, though?

I can not figure out what you are talking about here... "rear cover/pinion carrier"? "Cover/carrier casting"?

*If* the leak was from the pinion seal, then, yes, you could just remover the pinion flange and replace the seal. It seems pretty clear that is not what the OP is talking about



Leaking from the bottom of the "FIPG diff gasket" As in the junction between the cast iron diff assembly and the axle housing.

No way to redo the "gasket" without removing the diff assembly.

No way to remove the diff assembly until the axle shafts have been disengaged from the diff.

No way to disengage the axles shafts without removing the spindles.


Mark...

 

[Gordolordo]

Thanks Mark.

To clarify, I need to replace the gasket (part number 43611) in order to stop a gear oil leak coming from between the front axle and differential housing assembly (part number 43110) and the front axle and differential carrier assembly (part number 41110). See attached pictures.

So what you're saying is there's no easy way to do this. I've got to pull the axle shafts to remove the differential carrier assembly (and every other step between) to get after that gasket?

 

[Fj80oregon]

Most guys use FIPG or grey permatex
To seal that.

 

[Fj80oregon]

You could also check to see if your nuts came loose? And yes you will be disassembling the front end to pull the third member.

 

[Malleus]

FWIW, FIPG is not a gasket, it's gasket compound (gasket in a tube). What is supposed to be in there is this:

As Mark wrote, you'll have to pull the driveshafts out of the differential in order to replace the gasket.

If, however, whoever installed your lockers instead put sealant on the face and called it a gasket I would (in no specific order)
a) hunt them down, tie them to a stake in the ground over an ant hill and pour honey on them, and
b) drain the differential gear oil, clean the surfaces as best you can with solvent (kerosene, etc) and slather more FIPG on the faces.
You might be able to get a smidge of clearance between the two faces by loosening the bolts, but I wouldn't push it.
This is doing the right thing the wrong way.

If it doesn't work, you'll only be out the work you put in and the gear oil you drained out (unless you reuse it. This is by no means a permanent, or even good fix, but it is better than nothing, until you have time to pull the driveshafts and do the job right.

This assumes, too, that you didn't pay a shop to do the job. If you did, that's another discussion entirely.

 

[Mark W]

Thanks Mark.

To clarify, I need to replace the gasket (part number 43611) in order to stop a gear oil leak coming from between the front axle and differential housing assembly (part number 43110) and the front axle and differential carrier assembly (part number 41110). See attached pictures.

So what you're saying is there's no easy way to do this. I've got to pull the axle shafts to remove the differential carrier assembly (and every other step between) to get after that gasket?

Yes.


Mark...