Help with blown axle seal

Wow, thanks! Never even thought about the need to replace the axle. This car as 340,000 miles on it. Probably time.


Rotate the differential to get the hex bolt out: can I do this with one wheel on the ground? I figured I needed both off the ground.


Where's the best place to support things - can I put stands under the axle housing/tube whatever it's called?



I actually don't have a problem squirming around on the ground: I keep large pieces of cardboard, and I have a yoga mat. Sometimes I nap under the car, in the summer, when my husband thinks I'm working. Usually the only way I can take a break...LOL The biggest problem is that I don't have a good level place to put jacks and jackstands, so I have to be uber careful not to endanger myself or the car by unsafe supports.


Yes I don't like the smell of 90wt and now the inside of the wagon reeks of it because I threw the brake drum in there before cleaning it.



I have new brake shoes so was going to replace them, since the old ones, though they have a lot of lining left, are soaked, totally soaked, with oil.. Yuck! Once I get everything cleaned I will feel a lot better about the job.


Gonna keep reading now. Y'all are a girl's best friend! Too bad we can't get together for a beer afterwards.


V

THANK YOU!!!! Y'all are the best. You know, I'm a woman and I'm used to doing all the dirty work (if not deeds). We live in a farmhouse that my husband's mother was born in, over here in Eastern Oregon, and we kind of figured we had a septic tank. Well, we have a cesspool, and one day the ancient concrete lid broke in half and caved into the pit. Guess who climbed in, broke up the concrete, got it out, and then shoveled out the excess poop while I was in there. It was summer, and we had a teenage Czech kid living with us (my bead business took us over there for many years) and he just kept watching me work, saying, "Oh, I don't know how you can do that! It just smells so bad!". Did I mention it was summer? So, yeah, I don't like the smell of 90wt but I'm looking forward to learning new things and doing a job I've never done before. And with all of your advice I probably won't make any bad mistakes...Will keep in touch as the job goes along. I need this rig by next Thursday, and with fall weather being what it is, there's no time to be lost!


V.

Ok, I have educated myself by watching the recommended videos.


I was told not to move the differential after the pin is out: is this because the spider gears will fall out of place? Can I lower the side I'm not working on (I left its wheel on) to "lock" it, while I wrestle with the axle seal and bearing? When I pulled the diff cover the pin and locking bolt were perfectly positioned for removal - the left wheel is still on the ground - I was just going to leave the car that way until it came time for refilling the pumpkin. I didn't remove the locking bolt, pin, and c clips until I watched the videos, since I didn't want to screw anything up.


There was no gasket on my old diff cover, or rather I should say, it was glued on with some sort of silicone gasket compound. I bought a Felpro gasket - can I use it dry or do I need gasket compound as well? One of the videos said to torque to 30ft # if using a paper gasket.



What do you recommend for refilling the pumpkin? I don't race, or normally even drive much over 70mph. My trips are mostly interstate commutes between Pendleton and Portland OR, a round trip of around 500 miles, with city driving in Portland.


Thanks again, friend!


Veronica