Axle Tube Cleaning

[fireplug]

I found some good ideas while searching. Only one thing not covered. If I end up driving some of the crud into the diff housing will it be as simple as popping the cover and spraying some brake cleaner or am I asking for trouble?

 

[4X4HIGH]

I found some good ideas while searching. Only one thing not covered. If I end up driving some of the crud into the diff housing will it be as simple as popping the cover and spraying some brake cleaner or am I asking for trouble?

Yep, that easy. Pop the cover and clean out with brake cleaner and clean rag to wipe with.

 

[fireplug]

Nice! I'll try to pull all the solids out first, but any remaining stuff won't interfere or damage the inner axle seal? Thanks for the help.

 

[thatK30guy]

You should plan on putting in new seals anyways. Cheap insurance to do so.

 

[mr.smartass]

When I did mine I had to get a different hone then the one I have pictured in my thread, it was way to big. So I went and got one of the wheel cylinder hones and used it. Worked very well, and then I flushed out the tubes and the differential with mucho brake parts cleaner.

 

[loafer]

The "Shop-Vac" brand shop vacs (sold at Wal-Mart for less than $40.00) have a small enough diameter hose to fit into the axle tubes. I scrape the crud with the end of the shop vac hose, working my way from the knuckle toward the dif, and it gets sucked-up as it breaks free. This seams to work weel for keeping the seal clean and junk out of the diff.


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[Bent77]

x2 on the shop vac treatment

 

[Mudstud]

x3 shop vac

 

[fireplug]

You should plan on putting in new seals anyways. Cheap insurance to do so.

I really REALLY don't want to get into pulling the carrier to replace the seals. Not only because it will be a pita but because I need the truck back on the road for Sunday for work (the dd is down).

 

[cegusman]

I really REALLY don't want to get into pulling the carrier to replace the seals. Not only because it will be a pita but because I need the truck back on the road for Sunday for work (the dd is down).

I just did this last weekend. Went to change just the inner axle seals. Ended up needing to replace all 4 wheel bearings and hub seal once I tore it down. Ended up costing me $150 instead of just $25 for the axle seal. It should only take you 3-4 hours to do the inner seals and have it back together. Thats if nothing else needs to be replaced.

 

[fireplug]

I just did this last weekend. Went to change just the inner axle seals. Ended up needing to replace all 4 wheel bearings and hub seal once I tore it down. Ended up costing me $150 instead of just $25 for the axle seal. It should only take you 3-4 hours to do the inner seals and have it back together. Thats if nothing else needs to be replaced.

I researched a bit but I've never done it. I read you might need a case spreader? Can you do it all with hand tools? And the seal itself installs from the wheel end?

Maybe I will do it. Anyone have links to a thread?

 

[fireplug]

Well I scraped and using a good flashlight it really isn't that bad in there after all, and it is dry so I'm assuming the inner seals are doing fine. I think I'll just finish using the vacuum and call it good.

I bought a piece of ABS to use as well. That should keep it clean going in. I read somewhere about leaving it right in the tube. I'm not sure if that's a great idea or not. Any opinions on that?

If anyone has any links to pulling the carrier and/or replacing the inner seal I'd like to give it a read though.

Here's a pic of my stolen engineering

 

[onetonbb74]

My axle tubes looked like a clogged artery with just enough room for the axleshaft in there, so I used some 1/2 conduit and scraped the inside of the tube with the carrier out and the old seals out. Then i shoved a powerwasher in the tube to get it really clean. Then dried it real good. You would be amazed how much dirt and crap comes out of there. .