Sealing the gear carrier to the rear axle case ?

[Ed_K]

I have just recently installed a new pinion seal which has completely stopped the leaking from around the pinion shaft. Now that the gusher has been stopped, I can see that I also have some leaking around the gear carrier / front case. I will check the twelve nuts to make certain they are all tight but if they are all tight, Is it possible to loosen them all up and split the front carrier /case away from the main case say about a 1/2 inch in order to clean the surface and then reseal it with a bead of form-a-gasket ? Or will the inards fall loose inside the rear axle ? ... Nothing worse than loose inards !
Any other suggestions how to seal it back up while it's in the car ?
Thanks,
Ed K.

 

[Dave Russell]

Re: Sealing the gear carrier to the rear axle cas

Hi Ed,
You can't get the carrier out at all without removing the axles. With the axles pulled out a few inches the carrier is free to be removed. No loose parts to worry about. If you go this far, just as well remove the carrier completely, replace & seal the gasket. There is supposed to be a paper gasket in there, you know. I've had good luck with Hylomar on the gasket.

While you are in this far, just as well replace the outer wheel bearing seals, axle flange gaskets, & O rings.

OR
Just put up with the leak. You already know that there is no stopping point once you start messing with it.
D

 

[Ed_K]

Re: Sealing the gear carrier to the rear axle cas

Thanks Dave.
I guess if the twelve nuts are tight, I'll pull the axle shafts. I'll probably wait until I replace the leaf springs and mounting hardware if I need to pull the shafts.

 

[Dave Russell]

Re: Sealing the gear carrier to the rear axle cas

Good plan. Pulling the axles & getting everything back together is a whole 'nother experience.
D

 

[Coastalman]

Re: Sealing the gear carrier to the rear axle cas

Ed,
Many years ago I had to stop the leak on a chevy rear end and this did the trick without taking the whole assemble apart. I loosened the bolts just like you are talking about, created a gap, wound kite string around the bolts in the opening, soaked it well with form-a-gasket and tightened the bolts. It did not leak a drop! This is, of course, just until you want to take it all apart and do the work you mentioned.
Charlie

 

[GregW]

Re: Sealing the gear carrier to the rear axle cas

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[Ed_K]

Re: Sealing the gear carrier to the rear axle cas

Great idea !

If the case will crack open at all with the axles still
in.

 

[Keoke]

Re: Sealing the gear carrier to the rear axle cas

Yep ED, it will crack just a might. Along with these interim suggestions you might carefully look at the lower bolt locations sometimes the leaks appear only around the bolts which can also be treated from the outside by just losening the nut, which staves off removing the entire assembly.--Fwiw--Keoke

P.S. That string trick is cute!!

 

[Ed_K]

Re: Sealing the gear carrier to the rear axle cas

Now that you mention it, I think it was only leaking around the bottom. I'll take a closer look. It would be nice if I could get away with loosening the nuts and sealing them instead of having to take the rear axle shafts out !
It was another sunny day today so I just had to drive it instead of work on it today !
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif