Getting my ducks in a row

[Shdwdrgn]

It's hard to see anything right now... There's no fluid in the unit (unlike a master cylinder I recently received), and it looks like its been sitting outside long enough to have washed away any sign of previous leaks. I guess I was just hoping to take care of things while it is off the truck... much easier access that way.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Then do it all. Not that much to it. Grab some bearings and seals and go at it.

[v7guy]

Kyle's right, there's not much to it. The parts are pretty cheap too.

[Shdwdrgn]

Yeah I saw a seal&bearing kit on Amazon for $27. Seems like cheap insurance for something that has been sitting out in the weather.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Bingo Jack

[TBYODA]

Would that not be we're all the wear would be, other than the gears etc? Thinking when I swap axles I'd do the same and replace all seals and bearings just to sure.

[v7guy]

Generally speaking I like to rebuild or at least disassemble and measure clearances when I install major used componets. It's just good habit. You may find everything to be in great shape and you "wasted time", but you also may find a problem and be able to easily fix it.

[Shdwdrgn]

Well I'm happy to say that I cracked the cover today and the gears look absolutely pristine! Very even wear across the teeth -- if it weren't for the paint being worn off I'd swear the gears were new. I also started taking a wire wheel across the rusty areas on the outside of the axle, and found it is all just a light surface rust, not even worth my time to finish knocking off.

So I still need to pull the rotors and dust shield, and I can check the bearings and seals while I'm in there, but based on what I'm seeing so far, I'm tempted to just slap that puppy in there! I just got a 4-day weekend because everything is closing down around here due to flooding, so I'm thinking maybe I'll do the swap tomorrow if the weather looks better.

Any suggestions for something cheap to hose out the inside of the diff? I use full synthetic amsoil to fill it up, but I'd like to give it a light 'wash' first.

[TBYODA]

Any suggestions for something cheap to hose out the inside of the diff? I use full synthetic amsoil to fill it up, but I'd like to give it a light 'wash' first.

I have heard guys using brake cleaner but I could be wrong. Get store brand.

[dvanbramer88]

Well I'm happy to say that I cracked the cover today and the gears look absolutely pristine! Very even wear across the teeth -- if it weren't for the paint being worn off I'd swear the gears were new. I also started taking a wire wheel across the rusty areas on the outside of the axle, and found it is all just a light surface rust, not even worth my time to finish knocking off.

So I still need to pull the rotors and dust shield, and I can check the bearings and seals while I'm in there, but based on what I'm seeing so far, I'm tempted to just slap that puppy in there! I just got a 4-day weekend because everything is closing down around here due to flooding, so I'm thinking maybe I'll do the swap tomorrow if the weather looks better.

Any suggestions for something cheap to hose out the inside of the diff? I use full synthetic amsoil to fill it up, but I'd like to give it a light 'wash' first.

Walmart or advance auto has cheap store brand gear oil.

[TBYODA]

Generally speaking I like to rebuild or at least disassemble and measure clearances when I install major used componets. It's just good habit. You may find everything to be in great shape and you "wasted time", but you also may find a problem and be able to easily fix it.

You will also learn something if not disassemble the item a lot or ever and you get piece of mind knowing what it looks like in there and taking care of it when needed. My 2c

[Shdwdrgn]

Grrr stupid internet! The how-to video I watched on how to pop the axles said to use a 5/16 wrench on the set-screw in the pin through the carrier... I didn't have a 5/16 wrench, so I used a socket on it, which promptly rounded off the outside of the bolt head. I finally got an 8mm socket to sit on it solidly and was able to tap it out, but this little bolt obviously isn't something I'm going to pick up a replacement for at Ace. I guess its still got enough shoulder to put back on though...

In the meantime, I'm trying to get the rotors off. I saw something about using the two threaded holes to force it out, so would anyone happen to know what size of bolts I need to go pick up to fit the threads?

[dvanbramer88]

Grrr stupid internet! The how-to video I watched on how to pop the axles said to use a 5/16 wrench on the set-screw in the pin through the carrier... I didn't have a 5/16 wrench, so I used a socket on it, which promptly rounded off the outside of the bolt head. I finally got an 8mm socket to sit on it solidly and was able to tap it out, but this little bolt obviously isn't something I'm going to pick up a replacement for at Ace. I guess its still got enough shoulder to put back on though...

In the meantime, I'm trying to get the rotors off. I saw something about using the two threaded holes to force it out, so would anyone happen to know what size of bolts I need to go pick up to fit the threads?

Since you're not planning on using those rotors anyway, BIG HAMMER!

[Trail X]

That is, if you want to replace your carrier bearings in a couple thousand miles.

Sorry, don't know the thread size, but don't hammer on your disk either.

[Shdwdrgn]

Yeah the way I've dealt with rotor removal in the past is tapping squarely with a large hammer flat between the lug bolts... usually there's some rust there that this loosens up, then I can start to work the rotor off, but that didn't seem to work here, and I'm not going to just hammer away at it.

So it looks like a 3/8-16 *almost* threads into those two holes on the rotor, but we all know its actually going to be metric. I found a conversion chart which says the nearest thread is an M10 x 1.5, so I'll grab a couple of those tomorrow and give it a shot.

[Shdwdrgn]

Hmmm... half my city is flooded, there is no access across any of the rivers that run through town, and it looks like it will continue raining through Sunday...

I wonder if my wife will let me install a lift kit now?

[jonbo2002]

use it to your advantage

[Trail X]

Snorkel time. Go for it while it's hot!

[Shdwdrgn]

So the M10 x 1.5 is the correct bolt size... I picked up a 60mm with full threads, but didn't actually need it. Once I pushed the rotors out about 1/4 inch, they popped loose from the rust and I was able to pull them by hand. Thank you GM for doing something right!

I got the axles pulled, and the bearings and seals all look to be in great shape -- no sign of any roughness around the seals, and no indication there was any leakage previously, so I'm going to just use them as-is. I got everything back together again, without the dust shields, but now I have another question... Do you guys normally use RTV blue to seal off the diff cover, or just use the gasket with a light film of oil? It still has the factory gasket, and I didn't use anything on mine when I previously changed the fluid, but I didn't know if this was a potential trouble-area or not?

[dvanbramer88]

The few times that I have had the diff cover off my rear end to change the fluid, I bought a new gasket and use a light skim of black RTV on it. As far as I know, it isn't a trouble area.