Bad Leak (D35 I beleive)

[MountainMike]

I bought my '98 Ranger 4L 4x4 a couple weeks ago. (Being a '98 4x4 I understand it is an IFS Dana 35, correct?) Everything looked good until I noticed a leak on the passenger side. I looked underneath and saw this brown watery fluid everywhere on the pass. side A-arm.

First I thought shocks? Nope they're good

Sterring rack? Looks ok

Then I took a closer inpection underneath and saw it appears to be the axle seal is leaking, the oil is running down the axle and being spun onto everything

I'm an average wrench turner, but I'm wondering what I'm looking at regarding cost, difficulty and timeframe of replacing the seals.

If anybody has done it I could use all the info I get. I may post some pics later if needed.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I'd start with checking the condition of the fluid in the differential itself, the fill plug is on the drivers side of the differential housing.

If the fluid in the differential is brown and chocolate milky looking you will need to drain the diff, clean it out and refill it.

You cannot get the differential cover off of the truck with the front differential in the truck as there isn't enough clearance between the cover and the cross member in front of it.

Support the truck on jack stands so the front suspension is hanging. Remove the wheels, unbolt the outer tie rod end front the knuckle, remove caliper and support bracket, unbolt the upper balljoint pinch bolt, remove the PCV hubs, remove the CV shaft from the knuckle, use a pry bar to remove the the CV shafts from the differential. Remove the front drive shaft.

There will be 3 bolts holding the differential assembly to the frame. Remove those bolts and take the whole assembly out of the truck, its not that heavy as its all aluminum.

Once its out remove the diff cover, drain the fluid and spray it out with some brake cleaner, clean the cover and mating surface, apply a bead of gray RTV sealant to it and and reinstall the cover.

Pop the axle seals out with a pry bar or a seal puller if you have one. Hammer in 2 new seals. You can fill the diff out of the truck on in the truck. Reinstall the diff in reverse order of removal.

Its not a hard job, just time consuming. The seals shouldn't be more than $40 bucks.