Front Axle From Hell! Need Cleaning Ideas...
May 16, 2008 | 10:17 PM
#21
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,723
Likes: 6
From: Temecula Valley, CA
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!
oh kay. nevermind.
if it's really bad... ZEP!
if you're out around tractors, you'll know what I mean.
Oh... and have 4 for me.
Last edited by abecedarian; May 16, 2008 at 10:18 PM.
May 17, 2008 | 02:44 AM
#22
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 935
Likes: 4
From: Branford, CT.
You can try to use the brushes that are used to clean furnaces. Stop in at your local plumbing/hvac supplier and see if they have any. Get a diameter that fits the axle tubes. Use Palmolive dish detergent and hot water. You'd be surprised how well that works, and it doesn't damage parts.
May 17, 2008 | 05:16 AM
#23
Clean it out by hand as much as you can at the diff and at the knuckle.
Remember on a trail rig you don't need to pack the whole knuckle ball full of grease, the knuckle ball full of grease is for street driven vehicles that are going to go 60K or more without being looked at.
Once you've cleaned things up I'd wipe it down/spray it down with some degreaser and clean it again, making sure not to get degreaser on seals/perishable parts etc.
Then I'd put it back together, the knuckle, axles, birfs etc only need a light coat of grease and there is NO NEED to pack the knuckle full of grease on a trail only rig, fill it up with some CHEAP diff oil and drive it around until you get things hot in 4WD and then drain it and see how the fluid looks. Repeat the fill/drain method until things look good. Then put in some GOOD diff oil.
Remember on a trail rig you don't need to pack the whole knuckle ball full of grease, the knuckle ball full of grease is for street driven vehicles that are going to go 60K or more without being looked at.
Once you've cleaned things up I'd wipe it down/spray it down with some degreaser and clean it again, making sure not to get degreaser on seals/perishable parts etc.
Then I'd put it back together, the knuckle, axles, birfs etc only need a light coat of grease and there is NO NEED to pack the knuckle full of grease on a trail only rig, fill it up with some CHEAP diff oil and drive it around until you get things hot in 4WD and then drain it and see how the fluid looks. Repeat the fill/drain method until things look good. Then put in some GOOD diff oil.
Last edited by waskillywabbit; May 17, 2008 at 05:17 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
FS[GreatLakes]: Toyota collection part out
88sasturbotoy
Axles - Suspensions - Tires - Wheels
3
Jan 30, 2026 01:57 PM
jasonty
Pre 84 Trucks (Build-Up Section)
41
Dec 23, 2018 01:00 PM
GreatLakesGuy
The Classifieds GraveYard
8
Sep 4, 2015 09:27 AM
