Changing the oil in my front diff. I started the other day but I am finishing it today. I put a plastic bag over it while it was left open, but it was windy and rainy and the bag blew off. Is it ok to out back together like this? I've tried taking off some of the surface rust with some brake cleaner and a toothbrush, but it's hard to get off. Will the oil dissolve it? Or will it just burn off? Or will it rot from the inside out? I'm nervous and I won't be able to sleep tonight if I put it back together like this.
Let me know what you think,
Paul

 

I don't think surface rust on the innards would hurt anything. make sure you top your diff fluid and its not leaking like a siv and that surface rust should wear off

 

ok thanks a lot, especially for answering quickly, I'm outside in the cold doing it. I worked on it some more and more of it's gone,so as long as it's dry when I close it, and no water gets inside, it won't rust any further?

 

no rust cant spread with oil on the surfaces. and from driving the oil will beat that rust away. just make sure you don't have water/ice/brake cleaner when you put it together. the brake cleaner will eat the oil away and not lubricate properly. make sure everything is wiped down real good
and youll be fine

 

ya I know its cold out there I been putting off the wheel cylinder in the tracker for bout a month now lmao

 

so much for a sleepless night huh??

rust takes YEARS to eat anything and a lot of moisture to help it on its way....

just like people freak out about termites, they're slow eaters and it takes YEARS for them to do any substantial damage!!!!!

 

got it all back together but forgot to put the stupid little metal plate on that has the serial number and date I think. But I don't care, I'll just say it's customized now. And one less thing for water to get stuck under and rust haha

 

glad it was a easy job