How not to remove and replace the front differential side seal

[westslope]

I had a really hard time to pull the front differential side seal from the passenger side. It was leaking. It should be easy. (The CV-axle came out easily enough.)

I finally got it out by using a slide pull hammer and two internals jaws. Here come the pictures.

First, the original side seal below.

The winning set up. Two internal jaws pictured here with the removed old seal.

Peering into the front differential.

With a three internal jaws set up I was unable to budge the side seal.

I tried a box wrench, the closed end. I tried a flat screw driver blade. I tried a three internal jaws on the slide hammer puller and that did not work. Why? It was likely pushing the exterior walls of the side seal harder into the differential opening.

As I was gently reminded by 29claner, the FSM illustration seems to suggest using something that looks like a screw driver. Added leverage to the screw driver. None of this worked.

Replacing the side seal sometimes referred to as the CV-axle oil seal, was relatively straightforward. I gently pounded it back using a seal driver set purchased at Princess Auto. The original was flush to the inner lip. Same for the OEM replacement.

Almost seated: the new seal. Excuse the fuzzy photo.

 

[jsexton]

Seal puller like this is a life saver. That seal would be out in less than 5 seconds

Lisle 56750 Seal Puller
I usually use the old seal to tap the new seal in.

 

[maillet282]

You mentioned Princess auto. Where about a in Canada you located ?

 

[Prime]

Seal puller like this is a life saver. That seal would be out in less than 5 seconds

Lisle 56750 Seal Puller
I usually use the old seal to tap the new seal in.

Was coming here for this.

 

[westslope]

You mentioned Princess auto. Where about a in Canada you located ?

Near Kamloops, BC

 

[westslope]

Seal puller like this is a life saver. That seal would be out in less than 5 seconds

Lisle 56750 Seal Puller
I usually use the old seal to tap the new seal in.

So why would this seal puller work and the screw driver or closed box wrench end not work?

 

[jsexton]

Leverage is a lot different

 

[westslope]

Leverage is a lot different

That makes sense.

I do not believe that I have to replace the CV-axles as they seem to work well and I am hoping I can remove the driver side LCAs without having to remove the CV-axle first but if I do, I have to replace that seal every time so picking up a similar seal puller will likely save time.

 

[IM1RU]

I have to replace that seal every time...

Why?

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've pulled and replaced CV's on mine or other's trucks, and the only seal I've ever replaced is one on mine because I blew the CV and it trashed the seal. Just pulling and replacing the CV shouldn't harm the seal in the slightest.

 

[westslope]

Why?

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've pulled and replaced CV's on mine or other's trucks, and the only seal I've ever replaced is one on mine because I blew the CV and it trashed the seal. Just pulling and replacing the CV shouldn't harm the seal in the slightest.

I was under the impression that every time the CV-axle came out, the seal had to be replaced. In this case, the seal was leaking but removing the CV-axle was easy and did not seem to damage the seal at all. Carefully removing and replacing the CV-axle should place minimal or no stress on the seal.

Hmmm. When I remove the driver side LCA's and wheel bearing and hub assembly (WBHA), perhaps I should take out the CV-axle just to make things a little easier and then not worry about replacing the driver side seal? That would definitely save some time and effort.

 

[jsexton]

Yea, no need to change the seal every time.

 

[jsexton]

But it’s still worth the $10 to pull the seal in 5 seconds. You will only need to buy one in your lifetime.

 

[westslope]

Sold, sold, and sold. Thanks!

I see the Lisle seal puller has come down to C$15.99 at our one-hour drive away KMS Tools. Sigh. Might mean less bourbon going forward, but I believe we can afford this tool.