rear axle seal

Have a 2000 ZR2 Blazer and noticed the right rear axle seal is starting to seap a little bit. Want to change this out and was hoping for any pointers to help make it go easier. Might ad that I only have 58,000 on it and don't think I'm going to find any bearing problems, so am shooting for seal replacement only.Thanks in advance.

You have to pull the axle to replace the seal. While you have it apart it would be a good idea to replace the bearing as well. Make sure that you get the ones for your ZR2, they are bigger than the ones for a standard blazer.

You'll need to pull the wheel, caliper, caliper mount, and rotor.

Remove the differential cover. Remove the screw that holds the center pin in place. Slide out the center pin. Push in on the axle to expose the C-clip. Pull the C-Clip (I've found the tweezers work well). With the C-Clip removed the axle will slide out and allow you to access the seal and bearing.

The seal should pull out by hand. The bearing will require a slide hammer, if you don't own one, AutoZone has them in their Loan-A-Tool program.

That's the basics of it, if you need me to elaborate on anything, just ask.

You have to pull the axle to replace the seal. While you have it apart it would be a good idea to replace the bearing as well. Make sure that you get the ones for your ZR2, they are bigger than the ones for a standard blazer.

You'll need to pull the wheel, caliper, caliper mount, and rotor.

Remove the differential cover. Remove the screw that holds the center pin in place. Slide out the center pin. Push in on the axle to expose the C-clip. Pull the C-Clip (I've found the tweezers work well). With the C-Clip removed the axle will slide out and allow you to access the seal and bearing.

The seal should pull out by hand. The bearing will require a slide hammer, if you don't own one, AutoZone has them in their Loan-A-Tool program.

That's the basics of it, if you need me to elaborate on anything, just ask.

Right on Dude! Short, Sweet and Right to the point. :naughty:

As a side note, (not trying to whore your post here!) Make sure to have the replacement oil on hand. They used to sell plastic bottles with hand pumps on them to fill the rear end after the cover is re-installed. These work alot better than trying to fill with a funnel. Spend the extra bucks and buy the pump. :grinyes:

Right on Dude! Short, Sweet and Right to the point. :naughty:
Thanks :)

As a side note, (not trying to whore your post here!) Make sure to have the replacement oil on hand. They used to sell plastic bottles with hand pumps on them to fill the rear end after the cover is re-installed. These work alot better than trying to fill with a funnel. Spend the extra bucks and buy the pump. :grinyes:
I just wanted to add..... you have to pay attention to what kind you get as well. Some of it will say "for top off only" in small print on the back and isn't intended for a complete fill, even though it says GL-5 in big letters on the front. This would also be a good time to switch to synthetic.

Something else that I do is change out the fill plug with a fitting that has a normal head on it, so that I can use a wrench or socket on it. It makes maintenance a lot easier.

BTW don't forget to pick up a new gasket for the differential cover while you're at the parts store.

Thanks for the tips guys, and thanks for the heads up on the gear lube info. Didn't realize that some of it was for topoff only. If I change to synthetic will I have any problems with what little lube is left in the axle housings mixing with the synthetic.
Wouldn't think so, but knowing the luck I've had lately! Also, I do have a small in-line pump I was going to use for the refill.

You have to pull the axle to replace the seal. While you have it apart it would be a good idea to replace the bearing as well. Make sure that you get the ones for your ZR2, they are bigger than the ones for a standard blazer.

You'll need to pull the wheel, caliper, caliper mount, and rotor.

Remove the differential cover. Remove the screw that holds the center pin in place. Slide out the center pin. Push in on the axle to expose the C-clip. Pull the C-Clip (I've found the tweezers work well). With the C-Clip removed the axle will slide out and allow you to access the seal and bearing.

The seal should pull out by hand. The bearing will require a slide hammer, if you don't own one, AutoZone has them in their Loan-A-Tool program.

That's the basics of it, if you need me to elaborate on anything, just ask.

Yeah, good post, great pointers for any problems i experience when i have to do it....whenever that may be heh.

Most of the fluid will come out so there won't be enough left in there to have much of an effect on the new stuff. If you find metal shavings on your magnet, you'll want to flush the old fluid out, before putting in the new stuff.

Also, if you have a spare under the back, you'll gain a lot of work room by removing it.