Need for front Diff. removal and cleaning? (1 Viewer)

[Rookie2]

After reading another post that had a picture of Eric_bruisers front differential coated with birf soup, made me wonder if I should have removed mine and cleaned it when doing the repack. I had total soup in my axle so I assume my diff. would have been coated in the stuff like Erics. Are the rest of you removing and cleaning the front diff. once you've had grease contamination in the axle?


Rookie2

 

[OGBeno]

Hey Rook2:

When I did the Birfs last month, once I had everything apart and waiting to be back together, I opened up the fill hole, then the drain hole, let it drain out (what was left) and then I took a gallon or so of mineral spirits and basically hosed it through until none of the gunk came out.

It seemed to work well; after about 1/2 gallon of spirits, the liquid came out pretty clear.

After putting everything together, I put the Mobil 1 in the front, closed her up and things have been fine since. At the next oil change, I'm going to check the fluids again and see how they look.

I assume the experts here have other solutions. Mine was the solution!!


-onur
Akron, OH

 

[Doc]

The easy solution would be to fill it with cheap gear oil and do a gear oil change every couple of hundred miles until it comes out clean.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The easy solution would be to fill it with cheap gear oil and do a gear oil change every couple of hundred miles until it comes out clean.

This is exactly what I did after finding gray gear oil up front after a deep crossing and pre extended breathers. I did the drain and fill twice with Coastal 80w-90 then back to my usual gear oil. Pulling out the diff is a big job unless you are also doing the birfs, then it's still a medium job!

 

[concretejungle]

I think beno has the best suggestion. Once the drain plug is out pour some kerosene, marvil mystery oil or even gasoline in there. Be sure it drains all the way out. Then pour your gear oil in there. THe kerosene or marvil mystery oil will dilute the old soup and let it just clean right out.

 

[Rookie2]

Hmm.. okay sounds like a mini-drain is in order to see what I've got in there. I did a drain and fill a couple of weeks before the birf. job, and IIRC the fluid that came out while doing the birf job, wasn't too bad. I'll take a sample and maybe post a pic. for thoughts.

Thanks,
Rookie2

 

[landtank]

The reason for pulling Eric's diff was when we pulled the drain plug nothing came out except for a dollop of the gear oil/ grease mixture. If you actually drained something out of there then I'd say it is nowhere near as bad as Eric's.