Just noticed my rear differential on my 2001 Ford F-150 4.6 is starting to leak. It looks like it is leaking from the cover. Is there a write up on replacing the gasket?

 

Been researching this myself....my understanding is there is no gasket. You just use something like permatex and bolt it back up. Of course I also did find someone said if you want to you can use a gasket, but it doesn't come with one from the factory.

 

Thats what my mechanic said. he said he uses a silicone sealer..

 

Just put a thick coating on there and give it TIME to dry. You will be good.

 

Autozone sells a gasket for 5 bucks.

 

glc is correct but factory doesnt put one and I would still suggest the silicone. Better seal!

 

its really simple get a oil pan take the 14 bolts off the back of the cover take a flat head screw driver and pry the back of the cover off make surre the oil gets in the pan other wise it makes one huge mess. take a razor and scrape off any old gaskets gunk off the cover wipe it clean and make sure its smooth, also check the magnet on the cover or in side the axle housing for loose metal particles and scrape them off to... i'm pretty sure you can get a gasket for our covers but you can use silicone as well...BTW i'll be removing the cover on mine cause its leaking as well so either today or tomorrow i'll be doing this.... than put the silcone/gasket on and also make sure there is no gunk or old silcone on the rear diff itself make sure thats clean as well. put it back on and press the cover up aganist the diff and make a nice seal reinstall bolts fill with oil and wa la your done shouldnt take anymore than 20 miniutes to do this

 

When I have done them, I clean out all the old oil I can with rags in the housing, and then I spray parts cleaner in there to clean better. Then I blow out the carb cleaner to dry it, and then I clean my mating surfaces with parts cleaner to get all the oil residue off, and put a layer of permatex on both sides and let it tack up. Then I assemble and let it sit without oil in it, for 24 hours to cure, then add my oil and good to go.

I also have used a gasket and permatex both on the same cover and had good results as well. Just an added measure of protection.

like mentioned earlier clean the magnets off as good as you can. I remove them and wipe them off.

 

Thanks for the info. The other question I forgot was where to I fill the oil???

 

My pan rusted out I went under and wire wheeled the spot where I thought it was coming from. And it was rusted right thru just went to ford and purchased a stock pan and the oil. I think it was 4 guarts plus the friction modifier for limited slip only. The pan was $50 and the oil was i think around 60 to 75 I forget it was 2 years ago. good to go now I am starting to hear a whine coming from the rear. go figure 42,000 miles. GOOD LUCK DAN

 

Through the fill plug in the cover.

 

I disagree.A gasket is a much better way to go.But,to enhance the sealing ability of a gasket I put a very thin skin of RTV on each side of the gasket.

 

I have some questions about my axle on my 2001 f150 5.4 4x4 I am going through rear tires like crazy. I have replaced both axle bearings and seals and the pinion seal and I noticed that both tires spin the same direction. when i turn hard to left or right I can hear one tire chirping. is this normal for the rear axle?

 

It sounds like you have a welded rear!

 

Friction modifier added to the oil?