Ok...so a bit more of an update. I’ve been driving OG2 (“Old Bastard” in the thread link below) around and really enjoying. However, the brakes really suck, and there is 90wt still coming out of the left front axle seal. I guess the problem described in this thread from 2011 is back with a vengeance.
http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/forum2/showthread.php?t=15851&highlight=Ball+claw
I’ve got the front knuckle apart and it seems like there is a bit too much space bw the axle shaft and the brass end fitting, allowing 90wt to leak by. When I opened up the knuckle, I discovered the bearings being lubed pretty much by 90wt oil only!
So, since this continues to be a problem for this truck, I’m looking for opinions as Dan was back in 2011. I think my options are:
1) Pull the brass fitting out and replace with new one from SOR.
2) Put it back together and start looking immediately for a later model axle. Maybe Disc.
3) take the axle shaft and have some material metal added, then machined to be a tighter fit to existing brass bushing.
None of these are very appealing to me due to the amount of work required. The first option requires reaming the brass bushing until it becomes a tight fit. Seems like a real pain to get it right. #3 I’m not even sure is possible, and again would require getting it perfect to fix the problem. And #2 is likely the best option, but would require changing diff flanges, the entire axle swap, and also lots of brake upgrade issues due to 9mm vs 10mm fittings! I am fine with the old ball and claw, but I worry if it leaks constantly, I’ll never have good brakes with the 90wt getting thrown around in there!
As the original title of this thread states....HELP PLEASE!!!