I purchased a 92 F150, 5.0 V8, auto,4x4, and after owning for a week the front differential? is leaking on the left side. I do all the work on my cars myself and how difficult is this going to be for a home mechanic to do? I'm going to get the Chiltons manual. Any help would be appreciated. Engine runs great but I'm afraid I was taken as this leak started soon after I got it. Any help would be appreciated as like I said body is in great shape and engine runs well. Thanks

Kevin

 

You are lucky--the diff's axle seal is leaking on the easy side!
Get a cheap gasoline siphon pump and empty the diff of lube through the fill plug on the front of the axle housing assembly. While you're doing that, take a look at the aluminum tag bolted to the diff retaining bolt circle--there are a series of numbers stamped on that tag. One series is the Dana build number, and that is always the first question you'll be asked.
Pull wheel, hub and rotor, wheel bearings off--thoroughly cleaning and repacking everything. Pull the spindle off, and simply work the axle out to you.
Prise out the old seal, clean the diff, and install the new seal.
Parts to go buy at a good auto parts house(NAPA is expensive but they carry Dana parts):

A manual containing replacement torque settings
A Diff/Axle seal
A Dana/Spicer "Spindle Seal Set" P/N 706527X
A wheel Bearing Inner Grease Seal
A wheel bearing packer
A Dana 44 wheel bearing nut spanner
A tub and a tube of same high-quality high-
temperature wheel bearing grease for
disc brakapplications;synthetic if you can
afford it.
2 Pints diff lube--again, synthetic, with
limited-slip additive if necessary.
The passenger side is a bit more difficult, requiring all of above plus a fresh (dealership) CV-type boot and clamps, plus CV clamp pliers.
I just went through my '91 front end, so this is all still pretty fresh wound.
Eddie

 

 

Be sure it really is a Diff seal leaking. Changing the oil filter causes oil to run on the frame crossmember, and on top of the Diff housing, where it eventually shows up lower down. If even a little bit of oil is up there somewhere, it works its way down over time.