semlin
curmudgeon
Hi folks, I am getting plain tired of the problems I have been having since I got the axles redone about 2 months ago. I am either a serious mechanical hypochondriac or I can’t catch a break.
On the weekend I checked the front diff level for the first time since the work was done. About half a litre poured out before I plugged it up again and it was still flowing. It also did not look thick enough to be SAE90 gear oil which I use in my outboard leg all the time. Looks like 90 weight but pours like normal engine oil.  ark brown and opaque with no streaks. I called the mechanic who did the axle rebuild to ask. He doesn’t recall touching the diff oil. I pointed out that he had told me at the time that it was overfilled when it came in and had water in it too, and that he said he had taken care of that. He didn’t recall. I then asked him how he could have done the inner axle seals without touching the diff fluid. Oh I didn’t do the inner seals he says. I argue that he did but he stands firm that I didn’t because “he’d have to pull the gears to do that”. I know I specifically asked him to do them because I was working off advice given on the 80scool board as to what to do. He told me at the time he would. Now he says I absolutely did not ask him to it and he would have said no if I’d asked. The bill just says “replace seals”. The way the discussion ended, I can either sue this guy or move on.
So I assume the inner seals are leaking as I don’t know how you could overfill it that much. I am thinking with so much fluid coming out lots of grease must have migrated so I should just go to another mechanic and get it redone completely. This would also possibly address the stiff steering problem I’ve had since the job was done. Any other suggestions are welcomed.
On the weekend I checked the front diff level for the first time since the work was done. About half a litre poured out before I plugged it up again and it was still flowing. It also did not look thick enough to be SAE90 gear oil which I use in my outboard leg all the time. Looks like 90 weight but pours like normal engine oil.  ark brown and opaque with no streaks. I called the mechanic who did the axle rebuild to ask. He doesn’t recall touching the diff oil. I pointed out that he had told me at the time that it was overfilled when it came in and had water in it too, and that he said he had taken care of that. He didn’t recall. I then asked him how he could have done the inner axle seals without touching the diff fluid. Oh I didn’t do the inner seals he says. I argue that he did but he stands firm that I didn’t because “he’d have to pull the gears to do that”. I know I specifically asked him to do them because I was working off advice given on the 80scool board as to what to do. He told me at the time he would. Now he says I absolutely did not ask him to it and he would have said no if I’d asked. The bill just says “replace seals”. The way the discussion ended, I can either sue this guy or move on.
So I assume the inner seals are leaking as I don’t know how you could overfill it that much. I am thinking with so much fluid coming out lots of grease must have migrated so I should just go to another mechanic and get it redone completely. This would also possibly address the stiff steering problem I’ve had since the job was done. Any other suggestions are welcomed.