Axle pt 28

Since I broke my 9/16" socket I purchased a set of 12 point impact sockets. A cheater on the end of the breaker bar did the trick and the bolts broke loose. After quite a bit of scraping and wire wheeling the hubs cleaned up nicely, I also cut off the "nub" protruding at the mounting surface of the hubs. After the hubs were thoroughly scrubbed with lacquer thinner they revived a coat of self etching primer followed by a couple coats of engine enamel.

Axle pt27

I drove out out the inner axle seals and ran rags soaked in lacquer thinner through the tubes until they came out clean. I used part of the locking hubs to evenly drive in the new seals with out damaging them. After I got them both in I re installed the carrier, driving it into place with a non marring  dead blow mallet and bolted it back down.

1111

Axle pt26

I tackled the pinion seal today. The 1-5/16 nut that secures the yolk was ridiculously hard to break loose, even after repeatedly soaking it with penetrating oil the last couple days. After quite a bit of cranking on the cheater bar (on the breaker bar) it finally came loose. I had originally bought a pinion seal from Ford for a 89 D60 since I thought my axle was an 89. Needless to say it didn't line up and I ran to Oriels before they closed and picked up pinion seal, inner wheel seals and yolk hardware. The new seal went is easy and everything went back together smoothly. I don't know how many pounds the pinion nut is suppose to be  torqued to so I just tightened as tight as I could.

Axle pt25

I pulled the diff cover and carrier today. The diff cover came off quite easily but the carrier was stubborn. 

Axle pt24

I welded a piece of 1/4" steel plate inside of the coil perch supports. This is basically redundant bracing and will give the supports more rigidity. 

Axle pt 23

I cleaned up the axle a bit today as well as removed the angle iron I had tack welded in place to keep the proper width for my control arms.

Axle pt22

I finished disassembling the hubs today. The seals were very stubborn, I hit then with some penetrating oil, let them sit for an hour and then took a pry bar to them. Still so luck...so out came the hand sledge. After a little "persuading" the seals broke loose and came out. The bearing are still in good shape and there was plenty of grease inside the hub. I took the hubs to a DIY car wash place and gave them a good power-washing. When I got back home I dried the hubs off, wiped them down with lacquer thinner and sprayed them with WD40 to keep them from rusting.