Leaky axle seals? and everything else..

[swathdiver]

Mike, don't swap one axle and then wait for the other, do them at the same time before you drive the car again. Then have your tuner adjust for the new ratio.

With the little copper washers on the studs, she's probably got her original drums and parking brake shoes still. I'd still open it up for inspection and change the fluid.

Lube Locker makes a reusable cover, LLR-G14SF. She takes 2.75 quarts of 75W90.

If this came out of a GMC or Cadillac, it will definitely have the G80. If out of a Chevy, you'll have to look or decode the axle tube.

Fun stuff!

You are going to like the change from 3.08s to 3.42s!

 

[West 1]

On the LS style GM V8’s the rear main seal is held in place by an aluminum plate. The plate seals to the block. That is the place I find the rear main leaking, not at the seal itself normally. The job is the same. If you get the Dorman rear main seal it comes with a new plate. Makes that part of the job an easy change. Pulling the tranny and transfer case is not so easy.

 

[mikez71]

Yea I'm not looking forward to dealing with the rear main.. I bet you're right about that plate being the culprit..
I'm not super attached to the 5.3. Maybe the rear main fix can coincide with something else.. (6.2 or 10L80 swap)

The replacement front diff is here. Turning things by hand feels smooth. Out of a 102k mile sierra pickup.
Maybe get new diff mounts and fluid.. Guess I better start pulling the old one out.

Have been driving around with different ratios (in 2WD!) and with updated gearing tune.
The factory tunes are near identical except 3.08 shift speeds are mostly multiplied by 0.900 for the 3.42 shift speeds.
Looking at factory tunes, it seems they started with the 3.42 tune and were working in km/h.
3.42 tune below with km/h on top and mph below.

My rear axle was out of an Escalade AWD. (that really was 62k miles at auction). I ended up pumping the old fluid out of the fill hole.
Pumped out about 2.5 quarts and pumped in 2.75 qts of Valvoline synthetic 75-90.

Magnet didn't look great, I think my 220k mile 10bolt magnet looked a little better.
My 220k mile axle had diff fluid checked around 50k, quite possibly the magnet was wiped clean.
This 62k axle may have not had any service yet.

The metal didn't start standing up until I ran my finger over the metallic sludge.

Sorry I didn't open the cover. I almost ordered a lubelocker! Then I thought, eh.. I don't really need to mess with it.
So far its running smooth and quiet and not leaking on my wheels..

 

[swathdiver]

Yea I'm not looking forward to dealing with the rear main.. I bet you're right about that plate being the culprit..
I'm not super attached to the 5.3. Maybe the rear main fix can coincide with something else.. (6.2 or 10L80 swap)

The replacement front diff is here. Turning things by hand feels smooth. Out of a 102k mile sierra pickup.
View attachment 463486
Maybe get new diff mounts and fluid.. Guess I better start pulling the old one out.

Have been driving around with different ratios (in 2WD!) and with updated gearing tune.
The factory tunes are near identical except 3.08 shift speeds are mostly multiplied by 0.900 for the 3.42 shift speeds.
Looking at factory tunes, it seems they started with the 3.42 tune and were working in km/h.
3.42 tune below with km/h on top and mph below.
View attachment 463485

My rear axle was out of an Escalade AWD. (that really was 62k miles at auction). I ended up pumping the old fluid out of the fill hole.
Pumped out about 2.5 quarts and pumped in 2.75 qts of Valvoline synthetic 75-90.

Magnet didn't look great, I think my 220k mile 10bolt magnet looked a little better.
View attachment 463487
The metal didn't start standing up until I ran my finger over the metallic sludge.

Sorry I didn't open the cover. I almost ordered a lubelocker! Then I thought, eh.. I don't really need to mess with it.
So far its running smooth and quiet and not leaking on my wheels..

That's just breaking in. As long as she's quiet, leave it.

My front differential mounts were toast and she felt good after replacing them.