_StationWagon_

So the pics show what my rear diff looks like inside now that I finally have some time to take care of it following the nasty flood. To my untrained eye the metal looks ok.

The problem is the consistency of the gunk inside. I emptied a whole can of brake parts cleaner into it & the stuff is like glue - it's not dissolving. I had to leave it overnight to drain because it's so thick - thanks to salty flood waters & sitting for a long time. Who knows what I can use to clean this out?

Also, as the pic suggests, it looks like the stuff is also inside the tube, and I can't tell if it's drained cleanly. Do I need to take this to a professional? Right now I'm going back out to tinker & I'm wide open to ideas on cleaning this out.
Thx

Outlaw Star

You can use diesel fuel to break the gunk down. It will take a little time to clean but you have to be patient with it.

_StationWagon_

but what about inside the tube?

Lowrange2

I wouldn't worry about the inside of the tube right now.

I'd clean it out as best you can by hand and brake cleaner.

Put the cover back on, fill it up with gear oil, drive it for a couple hundred miles, drain it and refill it. I'd do it again after 1,000 miles.

_StationWagon_

I found a solvent cleaner that's working ... but there's silver shavings. I'm hoping that it's the solvent that's causing this & not a bigger problem.

Ok ... I won't sweat the tube - for now. Gonna seal 'er back up & fill before rust sets in. But I'll be back with more questions. I've done the diff several times in the past, but I was concerned about the salt & thickness of the stuff plus the fact that I had to let it sit for so long.

Outlaw Star

Once you run some gear oil through it, all that crud will break down. Then you can drain n refill later.