Well i was at work today and was admiring my truck whjen i looked at the rear axel and noticed a leak coming from the from of the rear axel. I thought i had heard of this being a problem before. So is this going to be a major pain in the @#* like I think it will be. Hopfully i am wrong. I guess I should go by a service manual, I have been planing on getting one but money is tight. Well this is just a great time . Really I should not be about it but if I was not then i would be :'( . Oh well. life goes on -Anthony

 

Is the leak at the end of the axle or at the pumpkin. Mine leaked out of the driverside of the axle. I just tightend the bolts down a little and it went away.<br>Aaron

 

It's at the front of the Pumpkin :'( . I have never had to replace a seal like before. Should be intresting. -Anthony

 

So can anyone answer my question. Thanks -Anthony

 

It's not really hard to do. Try replacing all the bearings in the rear diff some time <br><br>To torque the nut on the pinion shaft properly you need a tool to hold the yoke. I made one by burning a hole in a piece of channel iron. I have been told you can do it with the tires on the ground and the parking brake set but I was sure I would screw some thing up so I made a tool;D<br><br>Aint maintenance fun <br><br>Good luck

 

It drives me nuts to see that i am so bad at messing up spelling. Axel. WHat i ment to put was axle. Sorry that just drives my nuts. And i do it all the time. <br><br>Jbolt thanks for your input. That was what i was looking for. I love to do regular maintenance but maintenance that is unexpected and not at the best of time. So what is the torque on that pinion shaft nut? Thanks -Anthony

 

My manual shows 250-300lbs for the Dana 60/70

 

ok thanks -Anthony

 

one more thing. What size is that nut? I want to make sure i have the right size socket before I go pulling it apart : -Anthony

 

Just did mine yesterday at a friends shop...he didn't appreciate me dripping gear oil all over his nice driveway
He took a brand new 1 7/8 socket from Sears and put it in a drill press and ground on it with a grinder until it fit inside the yoke...I think he said he took over .020&quot; off. We torqued it with the parking brake on to over 200 ft-lb with a BIG torque wrench. He said just get it &quot;RFT&quot; .... ;D hth

Just noticed that mine is a Dana 80...you might want to measure the yoke nut on yours...might be a little smaller

 

Thanks for the info. John. I Have been keeping on eye on it and it seems to have stopped. I don't know why but it has just stopped. But I will replace it anyway, It will cause more trouble down the road. So thanks again. -Anthony

 

I just got my truck back after having a axle seal (driver's side) start leaking. I took it ot the Dodge dealer as they were having a special on rear end work. I was qouted $125 out the door to replace the seal. they opened it up and founf the axle had been grooved. That was another $125 for a sleeve and install. Picked up the truck and on the way home (7 miles) a squeek developed. Drove to the store an hour later and teh bearing seized on that side.<br><br>Called the dealer and they sent a tow truck. Apparently the mechanic had not pre-greased the bearing and it seized and fused itself to the housing. They put in a whole new third member ($4200) and 4 new tires for my trouble. They did have the truck for 3 weeks.<br><br>I would change the seal out but make sure to pre-grease the bearings!!!<br><br>Don M.<br>97 2500 CTD #6 plate, straight exhaust, cold air intake, Brand New Rear end!

 

3 weeks that blows. thanks for the advise. -Anthony