Ford Escape 2005 and change of seal for rear differential
 

Hello
If somebody have experience for changing of rear differential seals, I like to hear about possible challenges or difficulties - thanks in advance.
If you open following link, you can see part number 1177/Ford number 4656029.

Ford Original Catalog : Maverick 2000-2006 (TM1) :

Tapio

If your doing the one where the drive shaft goes I mark the nut position with the flange before removing the nut to put it back on to the factory set torque.I have not done a Escape but its worked on others I have done.You could scribe a line or use a centerpunch on the 2 items.

... a good idea. As I remember my earlier repairs, it's not one or two times when I am wondering about refitting - thanks about this tip :)

"The book" gives directions to remove the entire lower trailing arm but I found it easier to leave it hanging. I have replaced both rear wheel bearings and then later, the left axle seal in my 05 this past summer. The first one took several hours longer but after that, I found the short cuts. I loosened up all of the bolts and unhooked the tie rod ends, unbolted the lower end of the rear shocks and took the coil spring right out from under the vehicle. I let the brake plate hang from the park brake cable and wired the caliper up out of the way. I marked all the bolts that adjust the alignment before I loosened any of them so that I could put them back to the proper specs. If you position things just right, the axle shaft will come out but its a tight fit. I had to improvise a puller to get the wheel bearings out with the housing still on the vehicle. We ended up using a wheel bearing puller with adapters from a ball joint press. I also found out that the front seal where the drive shaft goes into the differential is available at the local auto parts store but the left and right axle seals are a dealer only item. If you ever need to replace the center support bearing in the drive shaft, it is now available aftermarket. (I found one on line at a company called Dorman Products) The dealer wanted to sell the entire drive shaft.

You say caliper on the rear? The 2005 had disc brakes all the way around? I wonder what year they went to drums?

Hi and thanks about reply and a good tip's - I let you know how it goes.
By the way, have you keep old axle seals and if yes, what are dimensions of those?
I have ordered new ones but it's good to know that they fit on place, this reason why I am asking possible dimension of old one.
Tapio

I didn't bother to save the old seal. I have no idea when Ford put drum brakes on the rear but my 05 doesn't have them.

The 2009 has drums.

I replaced seal in right side. I made the job according Haynes Repair Manual but without any special puller or similar tools. Thank you guys about help and comments :)

My 07 Mariner has 4-wheel disks....

Is it a 4WD?

Well, it's AWD. Did they put the drums on the 2WD versions and disks on the AWD ones?

The AWD term is a buzz word, it's a fixed ratio, non-transfer case 4WD.

I "think" or thought that the FWD has disks on all four corners. My '09 4WD has drums in the rear.

MY 01 awd is drums on rear.My Moms 05 fwd. has drums aswell