Front Axle From Hell! Need Cleaning Ideas...
05-16-2008, 09:13 PM
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Front Axle From Hell! Need Cleaning Ideas...
Ok well we removed the front 3rd to gear it and rebuild the knuckles, and lord jesus have mercy, I have NEVER seen diff fluid look so bad! This stuff could almost be considered a solid. It has the viscosity of month old chocolate pudding (don't ask). We opened the drain plug and not a single drop came out! Had to physically scoop it out with my hands!
Best guess is that this is the original differential fluid, and that a seal busted, and the original owner just kept adding grease until it became this congealed slurry of pudding.
Anyhoo, I've tried cleanin it the best I could, but there is no way to get all the $h!t out of the tubes, seeing as how we've gone through a case of brake cleaner and a couple boxes of shop towels. So I'm wondering what would be the best way to clean out this front axle. Was thinking maybe put it all back together, filling it up to the fill plug with diesel, and driving around for couple of seconds, then drain it and try cleaning it again. What yall think?
Best guess is that this is the original differential fluid, and that a seal busted, and the original owner just kept adding grease until it became this congealed slurry of pudding.
Anyhoo, I've tried cleanin it the best I could, but there is no way to get all the $h!t out of the tubes, seeing as how we've gone through a case of brake cleaner and a couple boxes of shop towels. So I'm wondering what would be the best way to clean out this front axle. Was thinking maybe put it all back together, filling it up to the fill plug with diesel, and driving around for couple of seconds, then drain it and try cleaning it again. What yall think?
05-16-2008, 09:20 PM
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rofl... if jesus had mercy, he'd use MEK (methyl-ethyl ketone), acetone and mineral spirits and flush that out with diesel then replace all of the seals.
Last edited by abecedarian; 05-16-2008 at 09:22 PM.
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05-16-2008, 09:33 PM
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See if you can locate some parts washer fluid..
If failing that I would see if you could somehow take as much apart as possible then pressure washer the gook out then drop about a quart of oil through it all to make sure it dont rust?
If failing that I would see if you could somehow take as much apart as possible then pressure washer the gook out then drop about a quart of oil through it all to make sure it dont rust?
05-16-2008, 09:36 PM
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Well out pressure washer is dead, but I suppose I could take back out the seals I put in, then unbolt it and take it to the car wash... Was trying to avoid something like that.
05-16-2008, 10:04 PM
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I've got about a 5th of black velvet somewhere in me right now, as we speak....
It's kinda funny I don't dreel funk.
05-16-2008, 10:11 PM
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Yeah weve (3 of us) gone through I think about 30 cases in 3 days cause of this dog gone truck... Really suprised were done by tomorrow seein as how our good hours are from like 11-3 lol. 8-11 being breakfast beer time and 3-7 being lunch beer time. Well see how she does!
Last edited by SwampThing; 05-16-2008 at 10:12 PM.
