While installing my new CB antenna yesterday, I noticed a puddle of gear oil right where the right rear tire sits in the garage. I poke my head under the truck and the wheel, tire, and well are coated with oil. SUPER! Looking at how small the puddle is, apparently I've been driving around like this for a couple weeks. I guess I'll be regearing sooner than I though.
I decided not to finish burying the antenna cable. I bought a new seal from Burt Toy and installed it yesterday evening. Everything is covered in gear oil. I spent about 90 minutes scrubbing it all off. My rear brake shoes are toast. I'm not even going to try to salvage them. I wouldn't feel comfortable driving it around.

The last 500 miles has been pretty expensive. First, my power steering pump explodes. I had to have that rebuilt. Then my axle seal with necessitates the replacement of the rear brakes. What's next?

 

Hmm maybe you should stock up on good Karma?

Man that sucks. Do you have an extended breather for the diff? How many miles do you have? I put the extended breather in as soon as I bought the truck in hopes of not haveing to deal with the axle seals.

 

??? Enlighten me. please.

 

3rd gen axle seals blow when the short diff breather gets clogged with mud. The breather help relieve pressure differences when the fluid in the diff warms and cools. If the diff is clogged the pressure will push fluid past the axle seals.

If you install an extended diff breather (long piece of fuel line) up higher the breather will not get plugged or ingest water.

There are quite a few write ups on it.

 

https://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech...r/breather.htm

 

I don't have an extended diff breather...yet. I'll be getting the parts for it this weekend, though. Live and learn!

 

Ahhh t/y.
I saw the write-ups a while ago. I just never knew that it may prevent something like that. I was under the impression the mod was mainly for deep water crossings because the hot gears and cool water suck the water in and all.