differential leak.... pilot bearing

[crownvicjim]

so i get under my 97 lsc to see how hard changing the o2 sensors is going to be and i notice some differential fluid at the bottom of the rearend. i brought it to a mechanic yesterday and he put it on a lift and said it was a passenger side pilot bearing.

quoted me $200 to fix it with the part.
should i be doing this myself or better left to the mech?
anything else i should have them check?

 

[crownvicjim]

anyone?

 

[mrzeee]

That brg kit with 2 brgs and 2 seals is a M-4413-A and to install you would have to drop the axle....move the knuckle out of the way and pop out the axle.....about 1-1.5 hr per side.

Max

 

[crownvicjim]

wow. thanks max. i think ill let my mech do it.

i hear really good stuff about five star all the time.

 

[chicken]

bearing?..........how about just the axle seal, the bearing wont leak. and if your mechanic is calling it a pilot bearing id run away (that belongs in the crankshaft on a stick shift car, not in the diff?)

 

[Icarus]

It's indeed called a pilot bearing, or expanded a bit more the 'stub shaft pilot bearing'...

 

[Markviiiedrea]

If you have the cash why get your nails dirty, I'm only a mechanic because I'm poor and I am forced to do everything my self.

I would pay some one else to do the work if the cash where there and I could find someone I could trust.

 

[unity]

For $200 I would rather pay someone myself. But thats probably cuse I never played with the rear dif and know it would take three time what the book says!

Mines leaking too by the way, but it looks like its coming out of the ABS sensor.

 

[crownvicjim]

For $200 I would rather pay someone myself. But thats probably cuse I never played with the rear dif and know it would take three time what the book says!

Mines leaking too by the way, but it looks like its coming out of the ABS sensor.

yeah, thats what i'm going to do. i wish it was the abs sensor that looks pretty easy(at least easy access.)

do you think a car wash could cause a leak like that? i only ask cuz my carwash has a pretty agressive undercar wash.

 

[m_maker]

ABS sensors do not leak They are just mounted to the case, and read of the exciter rings on axles .

The bearings don't leak either. It's the axle seals that do go bad due to road debris and mileage.

$200 is a good price if he's going to do both.

 

[crownvicjim]

ABS sensors do not leak They are just mounted to the case, and read of the exciter rings on axles .

The bearings don't leak either. It's the axle seals that do go bad due to road debris and mileage.

$200 is a good price if he's going to do both.

yeah. sorry. it is the seal. should i replace the bearing too? or just have them look at it and make sure its good?

 

[JoeyLincolnMK8]

If the bearings not broke do not fix it. I would check for wear, but it is up to you if you want to replace the bearing.

 

[m_maker]

BY both I meant the seals on both sides, not the bearing/seal combo.

 

[crownvicjim]

BY both I meant the seals on both sides, not the bearing/seal combo.

SO IM GETTING RIPPED?

 

[chicken]

It's indeed called a pilot bearing, or expanded a bit more the 'stub shaft pilot bearing'...

huh, i guess ive never thought about it, but yup there is a support bearing there so i guess its called a pilot bearing (stupid ford tech lol) whatever.
$200 doesn't sound bad for the seals and bearings, but see how much for just the seals?

 

[Icarus]

The FRPP kit (seals and bearings) M-4413-A that mrzeee posted is by far the cheapest route to go imho. Its like $22 or so...
The seals are ~$10 each I've seen. Bearings about ~$15 each...