As most as you guys know,,, I’m not much of a mechanic,,, and it really sucks because I ( like most of us) don’t have disposable income to hire one.

I’m going to attempt to change the rear axle seal on my 2003 Chevy Silverado. I YouTubed it and the only hard looking part is after pulling off the differential cover and pulling that pin,,, is moving the gears around to the backside and pulling out the clip to pull out the axle.. just concerned I’m going to mess up the gears… any tips?

Buy a new bolt that holds the pin in. Odds are it will be broken when you take it out. Something probably made the seal go bad. Make sure the bearing on that side is good and there is no scarring on the seal surface of the axle.

I’ll certainly check it out… i just hope that little clip that holds the axle shaft in comes out and goes back in as easily as the YouTube guy did it.

You probably wouldn’t be able to do it without wrecking something base on your past experiences. I commend you for your “ stick with it attitude” even though you seem to be mentally challenged in this area,,,,, Good Luck!
Love
Vinke

Wheel flying off at highway speeds can be a baaaad deal for everyone around.

If you find a serpentine belt challenging, I wouldn’t mess with a job like this. JMO.

The whole serpentine belt thing is a mess… I’m going to have to cut the old belt off and remove the whole belt tensioner and replace it with a new one.
The little square hole( where the 3/8 ratchet or pulley tool goes) is wallowed out.
It’s so tight in there that you can’t get anything to fit in there for leverage to release the tension ..

I do think I should get at least a bronze medal for some accomplishments,, lol
I have successfully replaced sway bar bushings and front wheel bearings… and I can put in disc. Brakes…lol.
After I get the axle seal replaced,,, I have a master cylinder to replace. I still have brakes… if I pump them up a few times before I can stop lol.

Now , get me out there in the outdoors,,, that’s a whole nother story.

Big job IMO and I do most my own work.

I work on my own stuff as often as I can

Axle seal went out on my 1999 Tacoma and I opted for letting the shop do it.

1)Because it required a press that I did not have at the time to get the retainer off and back on.

2) It is a big job and would take me a couple of days fighting it. My time is worth something plus less downtime juggling the remaining vehicle between wife and I

The cost was not pleasant

But when it went out after a few months I was glad I had paid for it because the shop replaced it on their dime

Turns out it is a PIA and they ended up repairing it 3 or 4 times at their expense

Several parts that have to be changed every time on this truck so not only cost of the seal saved but $$$ for other parts

I am mechanically inclined and can work on anything (at least in my mind)

that horse shoe clip will almost fall off it is held in by the housing push axle in an take it off

Not the axle seal… I sprayed brake cleaner along the axle from just behind the shock mount ( where I saw the dripping originally) to end of the axle,,, there’s a small pinhole in it..
I’ll probably have to change out the whole rear end eventually…. But I’m going to try to either put some steel stick( jb weld ) on it or soldier it…

There’s no pressure on it,, so maybe it’s hold for a bit.
Guess it’s worth a shot.

The housing shaft itself? How rusty is it?

If it is a pin hole in housing, a spot of RTV and duct tape will stop the leak. Clean housing with Brakleen, , rubbing alcohol or acetone first.

If you mess up this shade tree axle seal job you will have to pay a rollback to get your truck to a mechanic.

Think this thru....if you're short on both experience and money.

As suggested

CLEAN IT THOROUGHLY and use something to seal it.

Personally I would wire brush and put a tack weld on it.

If it is a weld defect you will be fine
If it is rusted through (I highly doubt) you need to be finding a replacement

alot of those axles will rust out right around the u clamp area more so where the bracket fits to the housing,from all the salt/crap sits in there,and theres a good chance your u bolts are pencil thin down in those brackets,pretty hard to see but once you blow the crap outta there you should be able to see it,you can get them off amazon pretty cheap.just measure twice or three times before ordering

Thanks!!!