REAR axle service?

[Montana Cruiser]

Once I get the $$ together and can find a fellow Cruiserhead to "show me the way" I will be doing the full front axle service, but I am wondering if there is a "rear" axle service that needs to be done? I have never seen it mentioned. I realize they are not the same, but is there something that needs to be done at the same mileage as the front? When I first bought the truck, I had it looked over by a Toyota mechanic in Montana that I trust. It needed a few things I did myself, pads, plugs etc etc, but also needed a rear wheel bearing repack. I went ahead and had them repack the rear wheel bearings as they only charged $110 for the whole job which I felt was worth my time and effort at that point. So with that completed on the rear axle, is there anything else I need to worry about? Junior has about 134k on her now. Thanks for any insight.

 

[DRTDuck]

There is a Rear Axle Service thread in the FAQ, that will probably answer most questions. I used the info there when I did mine. It is extremely simple compared to the front.

 

[loquito]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=13104

 

[Montana Cruiser]

Thanks for pointing out the thread in the FAQ .... I looked there, but obviously not hard enough!

The thread does address the service, but I guess my question was more in terms of when this service should be done? and if by getting the rear wheel bearings repacked if I have bought some time until I need to address the service. It seems the concensus here is that the front should be done on any 80 purchased with over 100k on the clock (which I am obviously due for with my mileage), is there the same time/mileage interval for the rear? I would have thought the front needed it more often since it sees more action (turning) then the rear.

 

[Beowulf]

MC,

The rear axle should get serviced every 60k miles but the consequences are less of an issue than with the front axle. When a rear axle tube seal fails, the diff fluid lubricates the rear wheel bearings. I did my rear axle at approx 100k miles and there was no grease in the rear hub. The seals on both sides were worn out. The good news was the bearings and hub were very easy to clean.

There was plenty of diff fluid so the bearings were well lubed but it would have been a problem if I had let the diff fluid get too low. The diff fluid doesn't leak out of the rear hub like it does on the front.

-B-

 

[Montana Cruiser]

MC,

The rear axle should get serviced every 60k miles but the consequences are less of an issue than with the front axle. When a rear axle tube seal fails, the diff fluid lubricates the rear wheel bearings. I did my rear axle at approx 100k miles and there was no grease in the rear hub. The seals on both sides were worn out. The good news was the bearings and hub were very easy to clean.

There was plenty of diff fluid so the bearings were well lubed but it would have been a problem if I had let the diff fluid get too low. The diff fluid doesn't leak out of the rear hub like it does on the front.

-B-

Thanks -B- ! That was exactly the info I was looking for.

 

[Rookie2]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=13104

Not much of an Rear Axle Service FAQ IMHO. You can pretty much sum the whole thread up in one sentence that says "Lock the rear diff. before pulling the short side axle".

...I'm done whining

 

[snowwolfwarrior]

AS a newbe to the 4x4 club and not has yet been out in the outbacks of the UK, when you say "lock the rear diff" is that done with the rotating knob on the lower dash?

 

[Rookie2]

AS a newbe to the 4x4 club and not has yet been out in the outbacks of the UK, when you say "lock the rear diff" is that done with the rotating knob on the lower dash?

I don't have the front/rear locker option, but from what I gather.. you have to have the CDL locked and the transfer shifter in low before you can lock the rear or front and rear (with the knob.. if you have that option). Not for sure if the CDL switch opens you up for more options (i.e. being able to lock the front and rears with vehicle in high range), but I think low range is the recommendation for this application.


Rookie2

 

[Romer]

I don't have the front/rear locker option, but from what I gather.. you have to have the CDL locked and the transfer shifter in low before you can lock the rear or front and rear (with the knob.. if you have that option). Not for sure if the CDL switch opens you up for more options (i.e. being able to lock the front and rears with vehicle in high range), but I think low range is the recommendation for this application.


Rookie2

The CDL allows use of lockers when not in lo. There is a lockout that won't let the front or rear lockers activate unless the center is activated. Normally you can only activate the center by shifting from Hi to LO. The CDL allows you to lock the center when in Hi. This comes in handy on snowy roads and when the wheeling does not require LO, like dirt roads.