opening up my rear diff

[mancinator]

just a quick question....im kinda curious to see what the internals of my rear axle look like and since i drianed my diff oil the other day and it came out gunky and frothy and looking like a choclate shake, i figured id open it up and really give it a good cleaning and repalce it all wiht some more new fluid. if i undo all the bolts holding the rear cover in, will i have to worry about it not sealing again once i put it back on? is there like a gasket or something that ill need to replace? if so ill probably skip pulling it apart for now and just clean it the best i can with it intact. for some reaosn i am very fascinated with draining stuff and lookign at whats inside....next is the tcase and tranny!

 

[nocents]

Best to put on a new gasket...Cork ones usally on the cover with some sealer

Nocents

 

[Roadnoiz40]

If you had water in the diff, you really need to pull the cover and get the rest of the gook out. Take old towels and mop up the rest of the stuff. Spray some WD on everything inside to help release any residual moisture. Re wipe everything with a clean towel.

 

[JohnL]

you might have sucked in some water through your "breathers." Change out all the fluid, put in a new gasket, and replace your breathers with extended hoses up to a dry location if you plan on any future water crossings.

 

[Cothran]

I just drained my diffs this weekend in preparation for an SOA, and what came out had a green cast to it and smelled......um....disgusting. Both front and rear were like that. Is that evidence of water intrusion? Anything else it could be? I only had my 40 for a month or 2 before I started taking it apart, so I don't know what it had previously been through.

 

[helocat]

I just drained my diffs this weekend in preparation for an SOA, and what came out had a green cast to it and smelled......um....disgusting. Both front and rear were like that. Is that evidence of water intrusion? Anything else it could be? I only had my 40 for a month or 2 before I started taking it apart, so I don't know what it had previously been through.

He he he yup that nasty smell really fills up the shop eh?! The smell is just old 90w, they all smell like that. Never really noticed a green tint to the lube but if its not creamy looking (milkshake = water in the oil) I would clean it up and refill with some quality 90w. Good luck on the SOA!

As for gasket seals for the inspection cover, I exclusively use black RTV. RTV properly installed IMO seals better than a cork gasket. I normally reach for the OEM gaskets for the drive train are areas that need it for the backlash on a gear set like the PTO gear box off the T-Case, or an area I get into a lot like the hubs.


Mark

 

[Romer]

The cork OEM gasket runs about $5 at the Toyota dealership. Whule you have it open, might as well put a locker in there.

 

[mancinator]

The cork OEM gasket runs about $5 at the Toyota dealership. Whule you have it open, might as well put a locker in there.

lol i wish.
moving into a house this week to funds are tied.

anyways i checked all my other fluids and they are all good...t case a bit low, but nothign major.
i will call toyotoa nad if they have a gasket in house i will get it...if not i will use the black rtv.
thanx for the help.

 

[TxCruzr]

My diffs, along with practically every other sealable surface, use a blue rtv like sealant. Comes in a can like cheese whiz. That or rtv works just as good and if you stock up on a few you can use it for everything instead of waiting to go pickup a gasket. I don't have any leaks due to the rtv seals except for my trans/tcase and thats from the seal between the two being gone. I'll just wait till I blow another case to fix that

Joseph

 

[CruisinGA]

Green gear oil often means grease seepage into the oil.

 

[Isotel]

I used the "Right Stuff" Sealer on my diff cover and it isint leaking.





...........yet!

 

[timbercruiser]

I used red rtv (thank you coast guard) on my rear diff. Can't afford a locker,WELD IT!!!!

 

[mancinator]

what are the torque specs when i put the rear plate back on?
i got a new cork gasket coming in tomorrow...5 bucks...why not.
if someone wants to weld my rear third, they are more then weclome....but i dontthink i know anyone local who is willign to do it for a case.