Axle gasket?

This is the steel gasket between the backing plate and rear axle housing. I saw no paper gasket, but assume one may go between the backing plate and axle “keeper” plate with the 4 bolts? What needs renewed/replaced?

Chris & Gabe

 

I have rarely put one back after pulling a backing plate. they really don't do much of anything.

 

There shouldn’t be any paper gaskets anywhere on the axle then? Steel looks ok, will reuse.

Chris

 

It's made of some sort of plastic material. Its purpose is to keep dust, dirt, and moisture out of the axle housing.
It's not what keeps the gear oil in. That's the job of the axle seals.

 

Alrighty,

I meant to take a pic of the fabbed solution, but forgot. 1 come-a-long, 1 strap and a couple of jacks along with my son and I and we got the third member back in. I tend to do things the hard way now and again, but am glad we pulled the third member.

So, my solution to adding a “drain port” was to cut a small piece of metal in the similar curvature to the bottom of the differential housing and overlapping the lowest bolt and the next one on the drivers side. After drilling two holes slightly larger than the 3/8” bolts, I welded a nut on the backside of each hole.
We temporarily held the nuts in place with “no head” bolts until the third member was in. We then tightened the nuts and one of the studs holding the fabbed bolts on the backside (in the diff housing). We then removed the other “no head” stud and threaded a bolt in. After tightening it, we removed the remaining “no head” stud and installed a second bolt.

This should allow the lowest hole to serve as a drain port in the future. We got the back end back together and filled with gear oil. We then dropped the tranny pan and changed the filter (a couple times) as I didn’t pay attention to the spring and cup the first time. Put the tranny pan back on. Installed the new tires all around.

Still some work for tomorrow, but not a bad day.

 

Thanks Larry,

We did not change the axle seals as we didn’t have new, but will when they leak or when we need new bearings. One bearing felt very solid, the other spun smoothly, but had maybe 1/32” wiggle, just barely enough to notice.

Chris

 

when they leak you will need more than the seals...
any parts store will have them... 9569S .

 

Thanks for the number, will put it on the list.

Chris

 

you put the copper washers back on...

 

I assume they will still help seal some. Got new ones for the bottom two holes, as they are leaking slightly.

Chris

 

did you use gasket or sealer?

 

We left the old gasket in place (in pretty good shape) and used RTV on the damaged spots. I’m quite certain the leaks are from around the bolts, not past the gasketed surface.

Chris

 

I use sealer around each bolt, also use sealer instead of gasket.
were these the bolts you modded for drain port?

 

Yes, nuts on the inside and these new bolts to allow draining the gear oil. When we install the axle seals soon, we will get it dried up. Thx.

Chris

 

Yea! If they soak in the brake shoes -- they will need to be replace also.