I think my magnet in my diff was in a case on the bottom of the diff housing...I think?

 

Got the diff cover back on. Supposed to wait an hour before torquing down to 35 lbft final. Then in with the new fresh oil.

I've been dreading this job for months. It didn't turn out as bad as I thought. The old sealant cleaned right off with a wood chisel and I cleaned up with some brake cleaner I had left over. With any luck it won't leak.

I had a devil of a time getting the first bolt started because there is nothing to locate the cover with and the sealer covered the holes so you can't see where to locate it. Next time use a drift key or something.

Edwin

 

I didn't find anything in the bottom when I felt around with my fingers. Of course I don't make a habit of feeling around in rear ends with my fingers.

The gear teeth all looked pristine with normal wear pattern. It's not making any noise and wasn't leaking a bit so I think it should be good for another hundred thousand miles or so.

 

 

While Edwin had,his fingers up some rear end, I took The. Wife out for a ride in the brick. She made me stand in the ladies underwear dept for nearly an hour. No cute girls to oogle over, so it was not much fun at all.

Stopped at DD, got a coffee and tea, and went down to the bay to check out the sea birds having fish dinner. Very relaxing,,other than the Mexicans getting drunk on the beach a few hundred yards down.
Very nice day, it was.

 

An open diff , if maintained, in theory can last indefinitely. I think it will outlive you, my friend

 

I pumped fresh oil in until it started coming out the hole then I got it all buttoned up now and went for a spin to Subway for a sandwich. I'll have to keep an eye on things to see if any leak develops.

I poured the oil I drained out into a gallon jug which got about 1/2 full so it was time for service. I've had the truck for 13 years and this is the first time I've done anything to the rear diff. Glad it's done and I know what's there now. The tag on it says 3.54 ratio.

The streets around here are lined with cars still celebrating Cinco de Mayo. They had me up till 4:30 am listening to their musica. Most of it is pretty good though. The house behind us had a live band.

Time to eat my subway.

Edwin

 

 

 

If you don't like dealing with gasket sealers, I recommend using this gasket.
https://www.lubelocker.com/product/llr-d060/
Especially, if you change your differential lube every 25k - 30K miles like I do.

 

That would be something to consider for next time. As much as I drive the truck that'll probably be about 10 years from now.

Edwin

 

I got one of those with a voltmeter for under the dash. The cigar lighter I wired to the ignition for the GPS. The USB is on all time to charge the phones while we're not running. The voltmeter I wired to the battery through a relay so it's only on while the engine is running.

Edwin

 

 

Use a couple of studs to replace 2 bolts above the lube oil line to locate the cover.
On a drop out carrier I always use copper washers to prevent a leak.

Did you happen to clean out the vent line while you were in there?

I know of people who have had trucks for over 40 years and have never serviced the rear end.

 

That's a good idea! I used studs on my lift pump the second time I mounted it. Probably won't need to ever take it off again either. I didn't check the vent but probably should have. I forgot to put the brake line back under the tab on the cover so I can check the vent then. It's hooked up to the bed rail above the diff. The hose looked good a couple of years ago when the bed was off. and the baffle on the end of the tube is in good shape.

The only other diff I've ever been into was my buddy's old 59 chevy when it went out one evening. We replaced the third member with a salvage unit with a slightly lower ratio. made that old 59 roar! I remember I laid my head in a puddle of lube and my head stank and felt greasy for weeks. Otherwise I've just always made sure they had lube in them. I lost some lube last year when I replaced the rear brakes so I figured it was time to look at it. The old stuff is very black and stinky. The new stuff is rather clear and smells a lot better. I don't know if the stinkiness is because of age or just from the type of lube that was in there. I have no clue when it was serviced last but it HAD been done because the gasket sealer was fairly new and looked amaturish. IDK if they originally had a gasket or just sealer but the FSM said to use sealer and no gasket.

I noticed a small drip on the ground today but I'm hoping it's just from the lube that got on the cover when I filled it. I was tired after pumping lube in it so I didn't wipe it off. Funny the things you think of that you should have done the next day.

Edwin