SFA front diff propshaft coupling seal replacement.

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Asterix
High Range 4WD
High Range 4WD
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:24 pm
Town: Port Elizabeth
Vehicle: 1990 SFA Hilux
Real Name: Johan

SFA front diff propshaft coupling seal replacement.

Post by Asterix »

Morning guys,

The front diff of my Bosvark is crying – leaks oil at the propshaft seal.

Last night is started with the job and got to a grinding halt because I do not have a 30 socket for the propshaft coupling nut! :crazy:

The procedure I have in my head to do the job is as follows:

1. Drain diff oil.
2. Remove front propshaft.
3. Open the locking part of the locknut with a punch and hammer.
4. Find a clever a way to lock the coupling.
5. Remove the locknut with lots of brute force and ignorance.
6. Remove the coupling with a bearing puller.
7. Remove the seal.
8. Clean everything and put back together with a new seal.

Please let me know if you have any additional tips or tricks – I never did this on a Lux.

Also the locknut – my guess is that it’s not re-usable due to the locking tab that does not look fresh any more. Will Loctite work or is the only option to get another one from the Stealers?

I also see there is a post about pinion seal replacement and the not need to be marked due to a preload. Is this also the case on the SFA?

Cheers!

Johan
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Toybox
LR 4WD Full Lockers
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Re: SFA front diff propshaft coupling seal replacement.

Post by Toybox »

Johan there is an easy way where you dont have to remove that pesky nut and reset the wheel bearing prelaod.

IIRC the procedure can be done as follows
- remove locking hub mechanism
- remove the circlip on the end of the birfield
- loosen the brake calliper and put it out of the way
- loosen the top 4 bolts holding the 'j' arm in place
- pull the whole brake disk/wheel hub assembly off
- clean everything and replace the old seal.

The installation is a reverse of the above.
If you want to strip everything and clean things properly then a geyser element spanner fits that big nut with a bit of persuasion.

Good luck :thumbup:
Asterix
High Range 4WD
High Range 4WD
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:24 pm
Town: Port Elizabeth
Vehicle: 1990 SFA Hilux
Real Name: Johan

Re: SFA front diff propshaft coupling seal replacement.

Post by Asterix »

Thanks Jonathan!

I think I will go big nut route since the everything is 70% stripped already. Great tip about the geyser element spanner - I forgot I have one like that.

If I mark the nut not replacing it but rather use blue Loctite when assembling again - will it be fine?
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Toybox
LR 4WD Full Lockers
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Posts: 814
Joined: Sat Dec 08, 2007 7:36 pm
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Real Name: Jonathan
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Re: SFA front diff propshaft coupling seal replacement.

Post by Toybox »

Hmmm, sorry about that. The story I gave you is for the half shaft seal not the prop seal. My bad... :oops:
Asterix
High Range 4WD
High Range 4WD
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:24 pm
Town: Port Elizabeth
Vehicle: 1990 SFA Hilux
Real Name: Johan

Re: SFA front diff propshaft coupling seal replacement.

Post by Asterix »

No problem Jonathan. Thanks for the response.

I had a look at the Workshop manual - super "deurmekaar" description, but I got it. The plan was to do it right replace the nut bearing spacer and seal, but the Toy Stealer here in PE has no parts.

My backyard way will have to do now. Bearing man will have a new seal if I give them dimensions. and I will give the nut a small touch of Locktite.
Asterix
High Range 4WD
High Range 4WD
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:24 pm
Town: Port Elizabeth
Vehicle: 1990 SFA Hilux
Real Name: Johan

Re: SFA front diff propshaft coupling seal replacement.

Post by Asterix »

I followed the advice on the Pinion seel post last night to replace the SFA oil seal. It seems as the design is pretty much the same in this area as the independant front suspension models.

I took a heavy duty piece of flat bar drilled 2 holes in it to bolt it onto the flange. The flat bar locked against the blade springs.

Holy smoke that pinion nut was tight. My 90kg's weight on top of a power bar (sissie bar) did NOTHING. Evetually I wedged myself against the wall to work the sissie bar by foot. That worked! :thumbup:

Now just to get the new seal and put everything back together again tonight. Again I will follow the advice of the pinion seal post by turning the nut back into it's original position and lock it with Locktite. It seems to be the proven method.
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