Next up on the list of baseline maintenance projects was changing out gear oil in the rear differential, but first the slightly seeping rear pinion seal needed to be addressed. It didn’t really rise to level of a leak yet, but it would’ve eventually.
This is one of those easy jobs that’s easy to put off, but simply takes a bit of time to take care of.
One the yoke was off and the old seal out, I got to find out if I ordered the right seal and speedy sleeve. The Japanese market parts catalog took me a part number that didn’t exist anymore, and there wasn’t a superseded number that clearly translated into a part number that exists on this continent. The result was more of a multiple choice question. By cross referencing one of those numbers to a North American market Montero configuration that should have the same rear axle (those were also multiple choice, with three or four different sized axles rear axles depending on drive train and market), I elected to order option B of the possibilities. It turned out to be correct. The other way to go would’ve been removing the old seal and using the dimensions to find a new one, but that would’ve been a less socially friendly option via paying a visit to a local seal and bearing supply shop.
I had also ordered a matching speedy sleeve, but the groove in the yoke was very minor, and I determined the new seal was going to end up riding in a different spot than the original anyway, so the executive decision was made to forgo the speedy sleeve option at this time.
Everything got put back together and the pinon nut torqued to spec, and the diff got filled up with just under four quarts of the good enough stuff. The 9.5 inch rear diff on this truck holds more gear lube than one might expect if you’re used to American 1/2 ton trucks and their smaller 8.8 inch diffs.
I did end up borrowing a gear puller from a friend to remove the Yoke last night. In the spirit of social distancing, he left a wiped down tool in his driveway, and I picked it up and left a wiped down six pack of beer from a local brewery. It felt like a ransom exchanged. We chatted for a minute from across his driveway. It was nice to see him, as it was the first social interaction I’ve had with a friend in a couple of weeks now. I miss regular after-work beer drinking with my circle of good friends.