Need help cleaning out my rear

[dpuckett]

.... axle, that is. I have found that the shop who put bearings in the differential on my 93 W250 (P.O. paid for it, not me) did a p-poor job of cleaning out the housing before installing the new bearings. The pinion bearings and passenger wheel bearings are in good shape. I'm undecided on the carrier and left wheel bearings (guy who owns the shop says they are ok, but should I really trust him?)- they have evidence of chunks of metal, etc, getting in the rollers and scoring them pretty good. Still roll ok, though. Add to the bearing issue a limited slip clutch failure, and I had my work cut out for me.

Getting back on topic. I have the center housing almost clean enough to eat out of- not a sliver or fleck of metal in the center, plus 99% of the crud and gunk removed to boot. But, there is stuff in the tubes, which leaves me wondering- what is the best way to make 110% absolutely SURE I get every last scrap of metal out of the tubes, short of removing the axle and having it hot tanked (and is that even a guarantee?). I took a few swipes with a piece of an old towel soaked in kerosene, but I havent figured out a way to get the towel to go only one direction, and not bring the slivers back over the clean area.

Anyone have any better ideas?

Daniel

[bgilbert]

I just ran into this on my D70.

I happen to have a broomstick that has an end with an opening to where it looks like one could hand it on a nail or something. Perfect to use it the same way you would clean your shotgun barrel. Get a box or roll of those blue shop rags, I ran one through the opening on the broom end, wet them with ether or fuel in your case, then work it into the axle tube both sides. Since you already have the carrier removed, you don't have to worry about pushing any gunk/rust/flakes into the center section, you can simply hammer that with Pyroil brand ether, (much cheaper than brake cleaner and has some *ss behind it) once you're done. Dry with compressed air. Keep repeating/replacing the rag with a clean one until it comes out clean or cleaner or whenever you feel it's good enough. Then hammer the ether into the tubes from both driver and passenger sides.

Go get yourself a case of Pyroil brand starting fluid, rags, broom and some bearings and races! Don't be cheap and replace bearings only!

[dpuckett]

Hey, hadnt thought of the broom handle angle. I have been using some old bath towel pieces soaked in a blend of diesel & gas at about a 4:1 ratio. I then remembered the leftover lacquer thinner from my head gasket job. It cleaned and dried the gunk/ chunks just fine.

I had planned on replacing the races with the bearings. I learned that the hard way a long time ago.

DP

[Philip]

I have a 2" bore brush if you want to borrow it Daniel.

I use it when I take a front axle apart to clean the axle tubes out.

[PToombs]

Bill telling someody not to be cheap?
Wow!

[oldcool90]

Bill telling someody not to be cheap?
Wow!

It scares me too and im not scared of any thing

[mprmn08]

you could just flush it with water real good then when your done just squirt some WD or equvalent in there and call it good. i did on a few dana 60's and nothing rusts if you layer some WD in it after words.