Another Rearend Question
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Acworth, GA
Another Rearend Question Alright, I know very little about rear ends, gears and that kind of stuff...try not to jump my **** if I ask a stupid question.
The other day I was doing a routine oil change and noticed that my rear end has been leaking where the driveshaft meets the housing. Plus sometimes when I run at a consistant 3K RPMs and come to a stop I can smell something burning for like a second or two, it doesn't smell like burning oil (I checked, I have no leaks). It really smells like gear oil, but I don't see how 3k RPMs would cause that. Maybe the rear is heating up and burning off some of the oil that has leaked out? What would cause the rear to leak?
I want to put in 4.10s and the leak is just a good reason to do so, but what things to I need to watch for and what upgrades should be done to prevent breaking something else.
Thanks
The other day I was doing a routine oil change and noticed that my rear end has been leaking where the driveshaft meets the housing. Plus sometimes when I run at a consistant 3K RPMs and come to a stop I can smell something burning for like a second or two, it doesn't smell like burning oil (I checked, I have no leaks). It really smells like gear oil, but I don't see how 3k RPMs would cause that. Maybe the rear is heating up and burning off some of the oil that has leaked out? What would cause the rear to leak?
I want to put in 4.10s and the leak is just a good reason to do so, but what things to I need to watch for and what upgrades should be done to prevent breaking something else.
Thanks
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
It sounds like the pinion seal is leaking (and they do sometime with age and wear) and it is slinging oil on the exhaust system causing the odor. If you what to replace it with same gears/bearing there is a proceedure to follow that I can tell you if you want.
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Here it is in a nutshell and it will work for pretty much any rear axle though the bigger ones can require stronger tools.
It is very important that you do not change the preload on the pinion bearings while changing the seal. Remove drive shaft for rear yoke but beofre you do ANYTHING else, scribe a line accross the pinion shaft end and nut to mark the nuts position. (Use a file or a light pass with a hack saw blade) Now remove nut (it will be tuff and a nice impact wrench will make this easier) and they pull flange off. Pry out old seal and tap in a new one and wet seal contact area (that contact yoke)with gear oil and reinstall flange. Reinstall nut BUT DO NOT TORQUE IT PAST SCRIBED LINES, ONLY TO THEM. If you tighten it too much it can lead to pinion bearing failure.
It is very important that you do not change the preload on the pinion bearings while changing the seal. Remove drive shaft for rear yoke but beofre you do ANYTHING else, scribe a line accross the pinion shaft end and nut to mark the nuts position. (Use a file or a light pass with a hack saw blade) Now remove nut (it will be tuff and a nice impact wrench will make this easier) and they pull flange off. Pry out old seal and tap in a new one and wet seal contact area (that contact yoke)with gear oil and reinstall flange. Reinstall nut BUT DO NOT TORQUE IT PAST SCRIBED LINES, ONLY TO THEM. If you tighten it too much it can lead to pinion bearing failure.
