Submitted by WHTJP98
While under the 99 TJ looking for a rattle I noticed the front seal was leaking really bad. Being I had a wheeling trip coming up I needed to get this done before then. It is not that hard of a job. So here we go.
Tools needed for this job are as listed:
- 1/4 inch socket wrench with a 6pt. 8mm
- 1/2 inch socket wrench and or 1/2 inch impact gun with a 1 1/8 inch socket
- pry bar
- flat blade screwdriver
- scraper
- hammer
- floor jack and good jack stands, but this is optional
1. Remove the four 8mm bolts that hold strap that holds the u-joint to the yoke.
2. Remove drive shaft. You might have to pry on this. Once free move shaft to the side.
3. Using either socket wrench or impact remove the pinion nut.
4. Remove washer and try to remove yoke off the spline. You might have to used a hammer to tap it off.
5. Take the flat blade screwdriver and remove seal.
6. After seal is removed clean up the surface of any debris left behind.
7. I used 3M weather sealant on the back side of the new seal before installing.
8. Tap new seal into place.
9. I like to look at the old seal to see what happened. In this case the yoke had a grove in it. I polished out the grove so the seal will live a long life.
10. After cleaning the yoke I put some silicon sealant on the spline of the pinion and some grease on the yoke where the seal rides.
11. Install yoke and washer. You can reuse the old pinion nut or install a new one. If installing the old one use some lock tight on it.
12. Tighten it down with a socket wrench as not to destroy the crush sleeve.
13. Reinstall drive shaft and install straps and bolts.
At this point the job is complete. You have the option of changing the differential fluid or checking to make sure it's at the right level. In my case I chose to change the fluid because I did not know what was in there and I wanted to get any remains of debris that might have got pass the seal out of there before it cause some gears or bearing damage.
I hope this helps you.
And a bad day wheeling is still better than a good day at work.
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