Water in the front diff!?!?

[kookydoright]

i've got an 85 swb with a front 10blt and 12blt rear. my front axle seal leaks and i drove through a muddy bog (by mistake of course...) now my gear oil is yellow and ressembles cream corn. changing the seal is out of the question right now. i've had it locked in since and it seems to work fine. my question is what, if any, damage is it doing running as is or should i drop the cover and fill it back up with new oil? any help is apprieciated, thanks.


85 swb/350/700r4/241/10blt/12blt/33's

 

[sledheadak]

it will ruin the bearings if left.pull the front cover and drain it and refill with new fluid.

 

[kookydoright]

thanks, i knew it couldn't be good for it. im learning. maybe buying a new gasket and staying out of the water will be cheaper than the axle seal.

 

[Chevy305]

thanks, i knew it couldn't be good for it. im learning. maybe buying a new gasket and staying out of the water will be cheaper than the axle seal.

You don't even need a gasket, a nice beed of RTV will do fine. I prefer black RTV on my diff covers.

It seems that everytime my axels go under they suck in water so I know to just change the fluid after everytime I wheel. I guess crossing a 50' wide 3' deep creek might not help
and without a snorkle I might add

 

[neverendingproject]

and without a snorkle I might add

Thats super smart.

 

[midnitewarya]

Thats super smart.

Indeed, it is well known, that for every 5mph the faster you go, you can clear an additional 3"s of water.

 

[neverendingproject]

Indeed, it is well known, that for every 5mph the faster you go, you can clear an additional 3"s of water.

Accordign to that theroy, you should be able to float acrross the water at what 100 mph?

 

[pvfjr]

Isn't that what the guy on Ripleys was trying with that buggy? Almost made it...