Rear Axle: Differential Pinion Seal Replacement

[Lou Van Anne]

My GT Hawk has started leaking badly from the front pinion seal....should I take it to a professional or try it my self....I'm only a half-xxxed mechanic* myself but have a friend who thinks he and I can do it in my garage.....anyone with some experience?....what would you recommend?

*and poor one at that.

[tsenecal]

I think that it is something you can get done, if you have a way to get it jacked up, and put on stands/ car ramps, for safety. You just pull the driveline, then big nut on yoke, pull the yoke off, then the seal. It helps to have a seal driver, to install the seal, but can be done without. Put some light grease on the yoke to help it slip through the new seal, and torque the nut on the yoke. install driveline. After it's back on the floor , top of the differential with gear lube. Good Luck!

[rusty nut garage]

you'll need to make a tool to hold the yoke still while removing the nut and while reinstalling and torqueing the nut. You can use a pipe wrench to hold the yoke however that is a primitive way in my book and scars the yoke with the jaws of the pipe wrench.
a good 1/2 impact wrench will assist in removing the nut. Don't try to complete the job without torqueing the pinion nut. this torque is critical as it sets up the pinion bearing preload.

My GT Hawk has started leaking badly from the front pinion seal....should I take it to a professional or try it my self....I'm only a half-xxxed mechanic* myself but have a friend who thinks he and I can do it in my garage.....anyone with some experience?....what would you recommend?

*and poor one at that.

[Lou Van Anne]

Thank You everyone....I'm going to have it done professionally.

you'll need to make a tool to hold the yoke still while removing the nut and while reinstalling and torqueing the nut. You can use a pipe wrench to hold the yoke however that is a primitive way in my book and scars the yoke with the jaws of the pipe wrench.
a good 1/2 impact wrench will assist in removing the nut. Don't try to complete the job without torqueing the pinion nut. this torque is critical as it sets up the pinion bearing preload.

[jackb]

There was a special tool made for this service... maybe Kent Moore made them. A name I won't reveal here, but someone many of us know.... has all those factory or dealership tools required for full Stude service....I've used some very unique tools over the years to get the job "easily" done..... On your pinion seal replacement.... make sure your mechanic friend knows the term "redi-seal......I would give this job to a Jeep guy or let it drip into a baking pan.......

[Lou Van Anne]

Got a quote from "Valley Differentials" here in Stockton: $100 an hour, about one hour to replace the pinion seal and the cover gasket, + parts.....not going to try it myself....too damn old!

[doofus]

I hear ya Lou, happens to us all. Do what you can and farm out the rest to a shop you trust. Luck Doofus

[Jeffry Cassel]

Not sure how to do it without the Stude Special Tools. Lucky enough to have found the entire inventory of a dealer 30 yrs ago- for $90! If I did not have them, I'd take it to a mechanic. The Dana 44 is so ubiquitous that they should be able to replce it in 30 min.

[rusty nut garage]

I do many of these a year. 1 hour is a fair quote. However I might have to double my shop rate ������

Got a quote from "Valley Differentials" here in Stockton: $100 an hour, about one hour to replace the pinion seal and the cover gasket, + parts.....not going to try it myself....too damn old!

[Lou Van Anne]

Repair is made....it took him 45 minutes...charged me $80 plus a $20 for the seal....I'm happy!