Rear Pinion Seal Leak

[trebman]

Question?

When I got home I parked the rig on an incline with the rear higher than the front. After about 1 hour I moved and there was a substantial puddle of gear lube on the ground. At first I thought it was from the transfer case but it appears to be from the rear pinion seal. I've never worked on differentials before, how hard is it to replace this seal? While I'm working in there is there anything else to check?

Have already installed new outer rear bearings and seals a couple of months ago. Was thinking that it might be a good time to change the ratio from 3.07 to 3.73. I would like to go to 4.10 but there is the issue with changing out the carrier.

Let me know your thoughts, Thanks!

[Mike Moore]

Pinion seal=easy
Gears=not so easy

Pinion seal is simple. Pull the rear end of the drive shaft, pull the nut off the yolk, remove the yolk from the pinion shaft, R & R seal, put it all back togeher. Only problem for YOU might be finding the tools to do it.:D ;) Heheheeeeeee!

As for the gears, somebody who knows how to set them up will have to do it. I found a local guy to do mine for $100 labor per axle, and everybody tells me that was cheap. As much interstate driving as you do, just to get to ODBA events, I'm not so sure that 4.10's will make you happy. The 3.73's are what I have in mine with the 33's, and Eddie's 345 Scout has still got 3.54's in it. They are still very "drivable" off road with our 4 speed transmissions. If I were you, I wouldn't want to go too low in your gearing selection, but that's just me.

Hope this helps. Great seeing you again this weekend!