Rear Diff Seals

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Apr 17, 2016 | 09:25 AM

Sharkster54

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Joined: Sep 2015

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Rear Diff Seals

Another question on my 2004 Mercury Mountaineer, 4.0, AWD...
I have a leaking seal on the rear diff, driver's side. Can the seals be changed without disassembling the rear diff? I am hoping I can take the axle shaft out and just pop the seal out and install a new seal.

Is this possible?

Thanks again guys. Love the car, but she needs alot of tlc. A 2004 with no rust.. can you blame me?

Apr 17, 2016 | 04:30 PM

fordmerc

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If what you are referring to is the axle seal, then yes, you need to remove the axle, pop the old seal out and install the new seal.

Apr 17, 2016 | 05:21 PM

steve(ill)

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there is a little more too it than that. This is a IRS alxe. The axle half shaft has two CV joints and it is trapped between the pumkin ( differential) and the wheel spindle. You remove the tire / wheel , then you have to remove the upper ball joint and the center nut on the axle. You pull the spindle outward at the top and push the axle spline inward at the same time. There should be enough clearance to lay the spindle horizontal by pivoting on the lower ball joint and get the axle out of the spline. If not, you remove the lower ball joint also.............. The axle is retained inside the pumpkin by a spring clip. You cant just "pull" the axle out, you will need a wood 2 x 2 about 18 inches long to set against the backside of the inner CV joint and smack it with a 3 pound hammer to get the axle to "POP" out... Sometimes 2-3 smacks is enough, sometimes it is a stuck and takes several smacks... it will come out if you hit it hard enough... Access to set the 2 x 2 against the CV joint and swing the hammer sucks. After the axle is out, the seal is easily visible.

Apr 17, 2016 | 05:25 PM