95 Suburban front differential axle seal leak

I have a 1995 Suburban 1500 4WD. My front differential is leaking on the drivers side, at the axle seal where the output shaft exits the differential and becomes the six bolt flange. I know how to get the drive axle off but that leaves me at the flange and short axle into the differential. How the heck do I release it to get it out and change the axle seal itself? Any help or advice is greatly appreciated!!

John ([email protected])

Need to use a slide hammer to pop out output shaft. Take out carrier bolt and pry down on case. Don't damage case!!! Also, there are updated lower control arms if your in the mud alot. As they will hold alot of dried up dirt on top of the arm and rub on the seal.

Stay cool

just like a cv-joint on a car theres a snap ring in a groove at the end of the stub shaft. i assume you took the spindle and all that fun stuff off. if your lucky you can just tap the back of the flange a few times and it will pop out of use RexNfx400's prybar method. make sure that snapring is on the axle when it comes out if not go fishing for it with a pick. i hope it just pops out for you. i've seen guys break the axle because there was no other way to get it out. good luck

Yes I've got the spindle and drivers side drive shaft off. So if I'm understanding this properly, the other half of the 6-bolt flange and the short output shaft should just "Pop" out of the differential? And if the snap-ring isn't with it, I fish it out and put it back on the shaft before I "Pop" it back in...

Rex, I'm not sure I understand your advice on the carrier bolt? Is that part of the differential or are you saying to pry down on the case to give myself some extra clearance to get a slide hammer on the 6-bolt flange to "Pop" it out? Also, for what it's worth, it's never in the mud, just snow in the winter.

Thanks for your comments guys...I think I'm on the right track...I hope!

John

what i think he means is to unbolt both axles, unhook driveshaft, remove steering linkage and unplug the diff actuator then you can unbolt all the differental mounting bolts except for the one at the rear bushing, this allows diff to swing down so you can remove the stubshaft. this is the prefered method and alot easier if the axle doesn't want to come out. since you already have the F.L. corner apart you should try to tap/pry it out first. most of the time the snapring isn't a problem just make sure it's on the shaft before you tap it back in

Ok, it has gone very well so far. I feel luck was on my side and when I tapped the back of the flange a few times, it poped out!! Couldn't have been happier. The snap ring stayed it the differential so I fished it out. I cleaned everything and replaced the seal and was ready to go back together. I put the snap ring in the groove at the inner end of the shaft and tried to "pop" it back into the differential. This is where the trouble started. I can't get it back in. I now see what rex was talking about as the flange is JUST BARELY touching the frame rail with the clip on the shaft. With the clip off the shaft, it slides in and out with ease...plenty of clearance. So I put the clip back on the shaft and inserted it so that I could "Tap" the flange. This hasn't worked either and am afraid to hit it too hard, and am also concerned about damaging the seal...defeating the purpose of this whole job. SO (sorry for the long story here), my question is this, do I dare try to put the clip back in the differential first and THEN tap the shaft into the clip? Or is it definately necessary to put the clip on the shaft first. I guess this would mean lowering the differential a little to gain some clearance. I hate the thought of that as it has gone SO well up until now. ANY INPUT is appreciated. Sorry for being so long-winded!! John

Maybe the clip is over expanded? Might need to bend it to its original size diameter. Then carefully not overexpand it putting it on the shaft. It the shaft slides in ok without the clip then that "should" lead us to the culprit. The clip. Hopefully...

I spent the dollar and bought a new clip. Hoping for the best this time...Still thinking the clip is just enough to make the round flange contact the frame. I hope I don't have to drop the differential...

John

you might have to loosen the diff mounting bolts a little if the frames in the way. i've never had to do that but i guess every vehicle is a little different. good luck!!

I GOT IT!! Now that I know what I'm doing, I could call it a cake walk next time. The only way I was able to get the shaft back in was to put the clip back inside the differential and slide the output shaft back through it. I had been trying to slide (drive) the shaft back in with the clip on the shaft with no success. Once I committed to puting the clip back in the differential, poped it right back in!! Thanks for all the input and support.

John

hey i hve a 94 burb and lost the snapring in front diff what size is it cause GMC discontinued it from what the dealer said, thanks