Rear diff question (1 Viewer)

[dazerb]

74 fj40 on stock drivetrain.
Drain the 2 yr old synth gl5 to replace with gl4 and this is what i found.
Chunks of metal. Fluid very dirty.
I just came back from cruise Moab and i tow this on a dolly with drive shaft removed. Rear wheels spinning.
New seals and bearings on the ends.
Tear it down?
See how bad and what parts?
No sounds or indication of problem.
Rather find problems this way...
Any thoughts??

 

[EWheeler]

Most of those look like pieces of a small spring.... is it an open differential?

 

[peesalot]

You say stock but those look like loc-right springs , although a bit small, maybe some other LS type carrier or seal springs that worked their way to diff from old/removed seals, looks like a piece of seal housing too, could be pinion, eithjer way only way springs get past bearings is upon removal/disassembly ?. Pop the cover and check carrier, if it's stock you can see the center block, spiders, etc... post up what you find ? curious.

 

[Gearhead]

That looks like the spring inside the seal to hold it tight on the shaft.

 

[sogncab]

Yep. You've got a seal that lost it's spring.

I'd run it until something gets worse. If I'm going to open an axle, I plan on replacing everything anyways. It's most likely an axle seal rather than the pinion.

You could yack the shafts out and replace the outer seals for piece of mind. While the cover is off see what else is hiding in the bottom of the housing.

 

[pb4ugo]

At a minimum pull the cover and look around, and clean out any debris. If it is the seals replace them and run it. When you reinstall the axles don't let them slide on the new seals lip.

 

[dazerb]

I have my marching orders. Thanks to all.
Pulling the cover tomorrow, i thought it looked like seal/spring too.
I have a lot of oil out the front of the pumpkin, is there a seal up front that could have done this??

 

[3_puppies]

I have a lot of oil out the front of the pumpkin, is there a seal up front that could have done this??

Yes there is a seal between the flange and pinion shaft

 

[pb4ugo]

Make sure the pinion doesn't wobble or move in and out. If it does then things become more difficult.

 

[peesalot]

You all realize those seal springs are in his diff which could only happen with shafts removed as the springs cant pass the bearings. Those are left overs from when the seals & bearings were replaced as mentioned in original post. Wether or not they caused damage ???? that piece of flat metal looks like a bearing shell piece that was left over from bearing removal.

 

[dazerb]

You all realize those seal springs are in his diff which could only happen with shafts removed as the springs cant pass the bearings. Those are left overs from when the seals & bearings were replaced as mentioned in original post. Wether or not they caused damage ???? that piece of flat metal looks like a bearing shell piece that was left over from bearing removal.

That is just the crush washer...
I'm gonna dig in...
Drums are dry, no oil leaking out that way that I can see. I replaced the rear diff oil after riding on the new seals for a year and there were no issues, just a drain and replace.
Weird how there was at least 1/4 quart came out the fill hole.

 

[dazerb]

No debris whatsoever in the housing. Seems okay. Brassy parts still in place. I'm no expert.
Seems like normal wear.
I just pulled the drums last week but will make sure they are dry.
I may as well do the pinion seal.
Any obvious issues?
Last pic is a good coating of dusty oil... pressure washed last week.