Front Diff leak...Yoke seal?

[PPeters]

Ok guys, I'm back at the well looking for a bucket of help...



After performing kingpin surgery on the 92, replacing everything I could on both outboard sides, serviced the Diff, filled with synpower full synthetic, start running and now have a leak



Looks like the yoke seal. Consulted the shop manual, doesn't indicate that this can be serviced on vehicle, just describes the R & R process in the context of a full removal of front axle. My question is this, can I just remove the nut, washer, yoke and replace the seal on vehicle? Any tricks? Manual shows many special tools needed to perform job. Anything I should be aware of?



Spoke to a jeep guy who had similar problem, he replaced seal, still had leak, replaced yoke, problem solved. Anybody else have a similar experience?



Thanks in advance, everyone!



Pat

 

[Philip]

You can replace the seal without removing the axle assy. Just pull the nut off the yoke and remove the yoke with a 2 jaw puller if it doesn't come off by hand. Check the Yoke for a grove. If it has one see if a speedy sleeve is made for the yoke. If it is put a sleeve on it to give you a new surface for the seal to ride on. If no speedy sleeve is made for it. you will need to get another yoke. New or used is your call. If used make sure it has no grove in it. Install the new seal.



Torque the pinion nut to 250-270 ft lbs and you should be done.



If you replace the seal and there is no grove on the yoke and it still leaks afterward. You need to reset the pinon bearing preload. It is off and allowing the pinion to move around and it is wiping the seal out.

 

[PPeters]

Philip, you da man



I suspected as much, wanted to confirm. Thanks buddy! While I'm in there, can any of the other items be serviced/replaced on vehicle? Thinking about the thrust washer, slinger, and shims. Or should I just replace the seal and quietly walk away



Pat

 

[Philip]

Just replace the seal and don't push your luck. Wait and see if the new seal holds. If it doesn't then go deeper onto it.

 

[Philip]

I forgot to mention. You found one of the bad things about a

full synthetic. It is harder to keep it in. A dino based oil needs a bigger path to go threw. The synthetic oil doesn't. It can go threw what looks like a good seal that doesn't leak with dino oil against it.

 

[Scot]

If you have trouble getting the seal out, run a wood/metal through it attached to a slide hammer.