Replace front diff seals, or leave the old ones in?

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May 27, 2020 | 12:31 PM
  #1  
I need to do some front end work. Left camber is off slightly and there is some clicking going on on the left while turning the steering wheel and moving. Not bad enough to tell when I inspect it (with someone else turning the wheel). Suspect a ball joint, 162K on the car, a fair amount of off-road driving, so new ball joints are going in. Then there was some clicking coming out of the right, while moving, at slow speeds, and only when really cold out. Could not repro when it was warm enough to work on it. Suspect either a hub or a u-joint, and don't want to wait until next winter to hear it again. So, new hubs and u-joints are going in as well.

I am wondering if the axle seals should be replaced at this stage, or I should leave the old ones be. They are original. No leaks.
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May 27, 2020 | 02:25 PM
  #2  
If they are not leaking then I say leave them in there. Just be careful removing/installing your axle shafts
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May 27, 2020 | 09:09 PM
  #3  
I say change them. You are pulling out the axles anyway, which is a big part of the job, so might as well do them. It's a whole day job, though. You can inspect the differential too. Look to metal in the gear oil. Put new gear oil in there too.
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May 28, 2020 | 04:04 AM
  #4  
Trying to remember but I've done my fronts and rears as the fronts were leaking and the rears even though no leakage they were rusted pretty bad on the metal part. My diff (carrier as some people call them also) was a SOB to get out and put back in but they do make a tool to stretch the housing opening but I just used a dead blow and knocked it in very carefully keeping it even.
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