D35 leak

[midtnranger]

I just got finished redoing my whole front end, and wnt to check my fill level on my front diff. I noticed it was low so I added some gear oil, and it started leaking out as fast as I put in. I looked at the back of the diff and noticed it was leaking from the driver side axle. Is it a pain to change this? I need to go ahead and take the diff off to check it, noticed some brown gear oil coming out to. Do you have to take both arms off, or is there another way. Any info would be great.

 

[sloth69mustang]

well you can get to it without taking it out but you will probably fight it a little bit. if you take all the brake stuff off and the axle out. but if you take it off you have to take the radius arm off bc there is a bolt hiding under the radius arm that holds the dif to the big control arm plus all the bolts on the front. but if i was you i would try to replace the seal without taking it out and if that doesnt work then pull everything off.

 

[midtnranger]

Do I need to take off both arms, or can I just take off the drivers side to take the diff off ?

 

[legoms013]

Just drivers side.

 

[sloth69mustang]

yeah just take the passenger axle apart then you are good to go.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I've never had to remove the radius arm to remove the diff chunk?

 

[F150hybred]

Neither have I... must be a Canadian thing, eh?!?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Ya, we're too lazy to do anything more than we have to to get a job done!

 

[sloth69mustang]

then do you spin the dif housing out? there is a bolt on the driver side of the dif that goes thro the big control arm...

 

[midtnranger]

Ok after looking at my Haynes manual again, I can take out the diff without having to remove the driver or passenger side beam. Is this true?

 

[sloth69mustang]

does side beam mean radius arm?

 

[midtnranger]

does side beam mean radius arm?

Sorry new to the Ranger, I meant the driver side/passenger side axle beam.

 

[sloth69mustang]

ok. yeah you dont have to remove it. the radius arm you need to remove on the drive side which in order to remove that you have to take the coil spring out. then the 2 bolts of the radius arm can be loosen and remove the nut on the end of the radius arm then you can swing it out of the way and get to one of the bolts that holds the dif housing in. i can give you a step by step from the beginning on how to get it out if you want just let me know

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

You don't need to remove the drivers side radius arm to remove that pinch bolt.

Cut the head of the bolt into a D shape and it slips in and out without problems.

 

[sloth69mustang]

my bolt sits completely covered by the radius arm