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MarineGrunt
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Apr 6, 2013, 10:42 AM
Post #52 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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Where do they normally leak at? If at the threads couldn't I just install another o-ring or Teflon tape? If not, my local CARQUEST has one for $41.99. If it comes down to just replacing the whole thing while having it out I don't mind having to do it again down the road if I just seal the threads. I know a shop would recommend replacing the whole thing so the customer won't have to deal with it again. I also don't mind buying a new one if that's definitely the way to go.
I believe you're right about the socket. I saw carquest has one for it. I wonder what's special about it. I've got a bunch of loose sockets laying around so wonder if I could make one? It looks like a spark plug socket. It seems like on my truck a regular socket and extension would work.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 6, 2013, 10:56 AM
Post #53 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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No, the oils comes right through the switch and out the plastic and it's under pressure so it can empty a crankcase in short order. There are 2 different sockets, a deep one and a shallow one. I suspect you will need the deep one. Check the valve covers real good at the lower corners and lower edge.
   List Price $8.23 Your Price $7.64 Item Number KD 2569 Mfg KD Tools Part No 2569
In stock: Yes  
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Discretesignals
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Apr 6, 2013, 11:14 AM
Post #54 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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It could also be a valley cover leak. Done quite a few of those.
Not like the one in your picture, but we had one in the shop we could of swore the rear main was leaking. Ended up being the cam sensor, so beware of those.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Apr 6, 2013, 11:16 AM)
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MarineGrunt
Enthusiast
Apr 6, 2013, 12:23 PM
Post #55 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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It's definitely the oil sender. I got it all cleaned up with parts cleaner. I had my mirror and light ready. The second I started it, and took a look, you could see oil instantly seeping out. It was seeping out pretty good. The valve covers seemed to be fine.
I'm sure glad I didn't start tearing into the rear main before checking with my mentors! It's a good thing I'm younger or else I'd feel obligated to put you guys into my will! Then again, I'd be leaving you with vehicles that seem to always need some sort of work.
Anyone know what size bolt it takes to install the power steering pulley? My belt is worn on one side and I'm pretty sure that's it. I must not have tightened it down enough when I replaced the pump a few months back. I had to take my dog to the vet that day, and was cutting it close on time, so I know I rushed it a bit. The belt is towards the back on it and towards the front on the alternator.
Thanks again for all of the help.
(This post was edited by MarineGrunt on Apr 6, 2013, 12:54 PM)
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nickwarner
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Apr 6, 2013, 1:01 PM
Post #56 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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I think thats a 3/8-24. You use an install tool that has a thrust bearing and nut to allow you to press it on all the way. Your parts store may have a pulley puller/installer kit for loan. Otherwise a backyard thrust bearing can be made if you have about 5 fender washers. Put grease between each one and use a nut to turn it while holding the bolt still.
Glad you caught the sending unit before ripping things apart.
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Hammer Time
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Apr 7, 2013, 5:53 AM
Post #57 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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I detached all the replies referring to brakes and moved them over to the brake section. We have to avoid getting that far off topic.
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MarineGrunt
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Apr 7, 2013, 8:19 AM
Post #58 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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Sounds good. I thought about starting another thread before we even got on the topic about the oil sender that way this one stuck to the diff. I just didn't expect it to get so far off topic. Whenever I start working on one thing I always seem to find something else that needs done. Next time it happens I'll start another thread from the get go.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Apr 7, 2013, 8:24 AM
Post #59 of 143
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MG - you were working on drivetrain and I personally don't mind asking about getting at or removing the trans for what was thought as a rear main leak along with the other drivetrain work on same truck. You are or done with most of that I think.
Hope you had a good anniversary dinner or whatever, - T
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MarineGrunt
Enthusiast
Apr 7, 2013, 5:34 PM
Post #60 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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I'm cleaning all of the sludge and shavings out of the rear end now. Do you need to worry about completely pulling out the axles and cleaning in there? If so, what's the best way to clean it? Take the seal out, use parts cleaner, and blow it with air? Since you can't really get in there I'd be worried about not being able to get all of the parts cleaner out that mixes with the little amount of gear oil that's still in there.
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Discretesignals
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Apr 7, 2013, 6:25 PM
Post #61 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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Use the wife's mop, soap, and water. Shove the mop through the axle tube and swab it like your packing a cannon...LOL
Lots of parts cleaner and compressed air works well.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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nickwarner
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Apr 7, 2013, 6:51 PM
Post #62 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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With the amount of shavings you have and the fact you already have it apart, change the wheel bearings and seals. You need a tool that screws into the end of a slide hammer to pull them. Once the bearings are exposed to shavings you can't trust them. They aren't that expensive. Its not like the truck needs braces too.
Happy anniversary. Hope she made the night worth your while. After all, her van doesn't fix itself.
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MarineGrunt
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Apr 7, 2013, 6:59 PM
Post #63 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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Our anniversary isn't til tomorrow but at least I got the dinner part out of the way!
It sounded like you were well on your way to a great birthday!
I was kind of thinking about doing the bearings. I have a slide hammer with the two little prongs that fit inside a bearing. I've never had much luck with a slide hammer though. How about an 8' stick of round stock. I could stick it all the way through and smack away! Huh, I said that screwing around but I wonder if it would work?
I guess with the bearings out I could put a rag on the end of a broomstick to clean it axle tubes. Either that or I could stick that same broomstick up our cat's @$$ and use him. His fur would probably grab more of those shavings than a rag. Better yet, do you think Tom would loan me his cat for a day? I hate giving our cat a bath.
(This post was edited by MarineGrunt on Apr 7, 2013, 7:00 PM)
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nickwarner
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Apr 7, 2013, 7:14 PM
Post #64 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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With the carrier out, the round stock would work. Good luck getting Tom to loan out the cat though. If you need an easier way to wash you cat, HT has come up with one.
How to wash a toilet
This was simply too much of a time saver not to share it with you.
1. Put both lids of the
toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.
2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him
... towards the bathroom.
3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and
close the lid. You may need to stand on the lid.
4. The cat will self
agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the
toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.
5. Flush the toilet
three or four times. This provides a 'power-wash' and rinse'.
6. Have someone open the
front door of your home. Be sure that there are no people between the
bathroom and the front door.
7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.
8. The cat will rocket
out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he
will dry himself off.
9. Both the toilet and the cat will be sparkling clean.
Yours Sincerely,
The Dog
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MarineGrunt
Enthusiast
Apr 7, 2013, 8:13 PM
Post #65 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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Lol....I honestly think that would work.
When I ordered the Truetrac I ordered the deluxe ring and pinion install kit which comes with all bearings and seals including those for the axle. It'll pretty much be a brand new rear end by the time I'm done. My only concern is getting the bearing off of the pinion. I have a bearing splitter, and tried practicing on the old carrier, and it keeps popping off. It's definitely the right size splitter too. The rounded out groove in the splitter matches the circumference of the bearing. I guess I just need to torque the crap out of the nuts. I think that pinion bearing is the only one that I have to use a splitter on. I grabbed my stepdad's press today so I'm not worried about installing them.
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nickwarner
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Apr 7, 2013, 8:19 PM
Post #66 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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When you go to install the new ones, get a pyrometer gun and a cheap pizza oven. Makes life easy.
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MarineGrunt
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Apr 7, 2013, 9:55 PM
Post #67 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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I've had parts in the kitchen oven. As long as I do it when the wife's not we're okay. I also put it on the cleaning cycle once I'm done heating the parts.
250 degrees max, right?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 8, 2013, 3:11 AM
Post #68 of 143
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You have to understand "Nick speak"
I believe he means to use a small torch. There would be no benefit to heating the entire unit. The goal is to heat the bearing and race to expand it off the hub that it's pressed on to without heating the hub.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Apr 8, 2013, 5:09 AM
Post #69 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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You can try my Kitty but you'll end up with more cat hair in there than the shavings and who knows how to get that out! Not real sure of the best way to clean it out. Probably wrong but I might consider kerosene and wild air pressure and volume? Then all that has to be dry. IDK as I'd have tossed the whole differential from the get go.
One thing is true, those filings and bearings are not going to get along well,
Tom and Kitty!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 8, 2013, 5:40 AM
Post #70 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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I would just get a large telescoping magnet and run it up and down the bottom of the tube.
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MarineGrunt
Enthusiast
Apr 8, 2013, 5:52 AM
Post #71 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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Tom, a little bit of fur won't hurt those new gears. Go ahead and ship Kitty UPS overnight and I'll reimburse you. 
I'd kinda figured he meant heating the bearings. Couldn't I just toss the bearings in the oven? Maybe I'll throw a pot roast in there today too. Since today is our anniversary I could get some brownie points.
If the oven is a good idea, and you think I should use a torch, would mapp gas get it hot enough? I'm guessing the bearing would cool too much on one side as I'm going around. I think I might look into getting some tanks today anyways.
I have a real strong magnet that's about 3" long, 1/2" wide, and about 3/4" tall. It has a small handle on top. I could wire that to a rod or something.
When cleaning the diff housing last night, I used the magnet, and there were all kinds of metal shavings right where the axle tube starts. Some were probably a 1/4" long but only maybe 1/64 thick. I'm sure there are more deeper in the tubes. I kind of wish I would've pulled the whole rear end. I could've stood it up on end to make it easier to clean. I guess I could just do my best cleaning it but then do a couple of fluid changes after a couple hundred miles in hopes that the magnet will catch any that I might've missed.
I think HT's magnet idea would get most, if not all of the shavings. I'm sure if any got way back in there they would be very small anyways.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 8, 2013, 6:12 AM
Post #72 of 143
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A can of Brakekleen with a straw nozzle would help wash it down.
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(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Apr 8, 2013, 6:14 AM)
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MarineGrunt
Enthusiast
Apr 8, 2013, 10:32 AM
Post #73 of 143
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Re: 2003 Sierra differential
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I have some hose that is used for a fish tank. I'll rig that to the end of the nozzle. I'll drop one side of the truck a little lower so it runs towards the middle and then do the other side the same. Gonna run the magnet through first so I can get most of the bigger shavings.
Great ideas HT.
I got my parts today. All brand new bearings and seals along with a bunch of shims, gear marking compound, and new ring bolts. I didn't think I had a torque wrench that measured in inch pounds but I do. Also, one of my other torque wrenches does do left hand threaded bolts. My 3/8" drive torque wrench doesn't but my 1/2' drive does. I think I have all the necessary tools for this job. Had to go to the dentist this morning for a cavity. Nothing like a numb face. Drives me nuts. I'll probably spend the rest of the day installing bearings, seals, and cleaning everything up real good.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Apr 8, 2013, 11:23 AM
Post #74 of 143
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I would rather see you shoot straight from the can. You won't have any pressure if you put a hose on the end. Just aim the can with a straw on it.
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MarineGrunt
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Apr 8, 2013, 11:47 AM
Post #75 of 143
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Like usual, I overthink everything. With the seals and bearings out, and shooting straight from the can, it's completely washing everything out. I can tell because after I blew air it dried it all and don't see anything shavings or sludge. I used an 8' stick of black pipe to remove the bears and it worked like a charm. Took about 30 seconds. After removing them I noticed that metal shavings made it all the way to the bearings. Those spider gears really blew. I changed the gear oil back in October and cleaned everything up. Didn't take long for them go.
The install kit I got came with both axle seals. It also came with the seal for the back of the housing for the pinion. There's another seal on the yoke but that didn't come in the kit. Do you think it's necessary to replace that seal? It seems like the other seal would stop the oil so not sure what the point is of the one on the yoke.
(This post was edited by MarineGrunt on Apr 8, 2013, 11:58 AM)
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