Dana 27, Dana 44, Transfer case (Dana 18) help

So in tearing down the brakes on the '70 CJ5, I've got a bit of diff fluid coming out of the pinion holes, and suppose I need to replace the inner seals. How difficult is it to do this...I mean, do I need a spreader and backlash meter? Does the carrier have to be replaced in the exact manner (insofar as the gear meeting points are concerned?) it is being removed?




I'm not into the 44 in the rear yet, but it appears to be pretty well sealed up, the transfer case (Dana 18) however, is also leaking, not bad, but leaking.




Thanks for your help guys!

-Emory

 

That's some bad looking gear oil you got there! Be sure to clean it out real well.

 

OOH, chocolate pudding in there! That thing has been in the water.
Check your bearings closely for pitting as well as the gears.
Most of the D27s I have worked on came apart without needing the housing spreader. There is a trick about turning the pinion gear while holding the ring gear from rotating that will force the differential case part way out of the housing. Put a box end wrench on one of the ring gear bolts near the top of the housing to lock the differential from turning.
Once the ring gear and differential case have been forced away from mesh with the pinion you can use a pry to get it the rest of the way out. Don't get the side bearing outer races mixed up, they go back on the same side they came out of.

Don

 

Thank you all for your info. What is the best way to clean this pudding out of the axle shaft housing? I have 8 cans cans of brake cleaner left... Can I use it to clean the bearings, too...or are they a bit more sensitive? I've found a lot of great videos showing how to replace the seals...but they never mention the bearings. What is worn past use insofar as the bearings are concerned?

 

Brake clean is your friend ,

 

I would do a quick reassemble of the front axle, leave it on stands with tires off, pull rear driveshaft, fill diff with diesel or kerosene, and run it in gear. Drain and repeat. You will go thru $40 in parts cleaner getting that goop out of there. Last axle I had like that needed everything replaced due to PO running water and oil mix. Hopefully you have better luck.

 

Thats a good idea. Might not be the safest, but it will sure work. I have run several axles that looked like that when I took off the cover. cleaned, refilled and ran. If its wrecked you're not out anything. In fact the axle I am running in the rear of my jeep looked like that. For a while I figured they were SUPPOSED to look like that. hahahaha!

 

As long as you're in a well ventilated area. Otherwise it'll mess your head. I can hardly stand the smell of it anymore.