Well my real axle is leaking, and im 99% sure its the pinion seal. There is fluid all over the top of the diff up the drive shaft on gas tank and the spare tire. Im just wondering how involved it is to replace. i know you got take the wheels off remove the drive shaft, then is it just pop off pop on the new one? or what should i be expecting?

any tricks to make it easier would be great, havent done much axle work. looked it up in the manual and it doesn't seem to bad.

 

Why do you have to take the wheels off to do the pinion seal? Except for the amount of torque on the nut and torqing it back right, it is pretty easy as you have read in the manual.

 

well manual says to pull the wheels. this the removal instructions

REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Scribe a mark on the universal joint, pinion
yoke, and pinion shaft for reference.
(3) Disconnect the propeller shaft from the pinion
yoke. Secure the propeller shaft in an upright position
to prevent damage to the rear universal joint.
(4) Remove the wheel and tire assemblies.
(5) Remove the brake drums to prevent any drag.
The drag may cause a false bearing preload torque
measurement.
(6) Rotate the pinion yoke three or four times.
(7) Measure the amount of torque necessary to
rotate the pinion gear with a (in. lbs.) dial-type
torque wrench. Record the torque reading for installation
reference.
(8) Hold the yoke with Wrench 6719. Remove the
pinion shaft nut and washer.
(9) Remove the yoke with Remover C-452 (Fig. 22).
(10) Remove the pinion shaft seal with suitable
pry tool or slide-hammer mounted screw


and for installation it talks about a special yoke holder and not over tightening it, or you could falsely preload the bearings?


if i just pull it off and put it right back on without spinning anything is it really gonna make a difference?

 

The preload is very important, and the yoke holder tool is just to keep it from spinning when you torque the nut, so you can use anything for that.