Leaky Rear Axel Seal

[scooter]

Hi im a new Mu owner with pretty limited knowledge of 4x4's. Can anyone offer a kook like me some basic advice or a link to some diagrams showing how to trouble shoot and fix a leaky rear axel seal on a '91 Mu 2.8t? Ill have a mechanic mate to help but im hoping to get as much info as possible before we get in there. cheers

[James W]

Well more than likely if the seal has blown, it's a symptom of the bearing gone. Plan on replacing it.
You will need a press to press off the bearing, but the rest is pretty simple, your mechy mate should have no trouble.

[geeves]

Is this the pinion seal or an axle seal. Axle seals are easy enough as the axle unbolts by 4 bolts behind the brake flange and just pulls out. Pinion seal is a little harder as the large bolt behind the driveshaft also preloads the diff assembly. To do correctly you need to replace a crush washer and torque very accuratly. It can be done by reusing the old washer and counting the turns but this is not recomended. If its not leaking much just keep it topped up I did this with mine for 8 years then a lsd diff came up at a good price

[scooter]

thanks guys - guess i wont know till we get it opened up and take a look - if its the bearing can you give me a rough idea on replacement cost? or if its the pinion seal and replacing the whole diff is the way to go what is a "good price" for one? (also is a LSD diff standard on the 91 Mu 2.8t Auto?) sorry about all the questions here!

[mulover]

Pinion seal is about $30 ish at your local genuine parts dealer, the nut which you should replace is $25 ish from the same place but will probably be ex japan as i could'nt get one in nz (3-whatever weeks wait)

Axle seal kit is about $200-$250 maybe from repco, i got mine for $150 mates rates.

I replaced my pinion seal and the nut was loose when it came off, so i put in new seal and did nut up to same place then a 1/4 turn as manual says to do it up so many nm tighter to allow for new seal, has never leaked yet and done a couple of thousand k's. Am gonna get a new nut for it though as i broke one of the wee bits that you bash in off and i just don't like it!!
Time: 3hours.
Have yet to do an axle seal but am pulling my whole rear axle to pieces soon to do some welding and will be replacing all axle seals/bearings then.

Hope this is some help to you,

John.

[geeves]

If its meant to have an LSD it will have the code G80 on the options plate Some do have it as do some 88 and later bighorns. Watch the ratios though. petrol bighorns and most Mus are 4.56, diesel bighorns are 4.3. My LSD came out of a Bighorn