bamapilot

How difficult and what special tools are needed to replace the differential front seal on a 2004 GT. Been sporadically dripping and jacked it up after washing the underside. Front seal now has definite leak and oil level was low. Any special tools needed, seal remover/replacer, etc. Thanks

ctgreddy

all you really need to do is take off the driveshaft, mark where the nut is on the flange, remove the nut, hammer off the flange, then i usually just use a pry bar and pry the seal out, then just use a hammer and beat in the new one carefully. then put it all back together, and make sure you tighten the nut to atleast be as tight as it was before, but it should be just a tad tigheter. altho i warn you it is a pain to tighten the nut if you only have the car on jackstands, i just use a 1/2" impact and SLOWLY tighten it, if you tighten it too much more than it was you'll have to tear into the entire rear end to replace the crush sleeve.

bamapilot

Thanks, the car is on jack stands so space is limited but that is what I have to deal with. How much torque is on the flange retaining nut, and why is the flange so tight? I presume removing the rear drive shaft to flange bolts will allow the drive shaft to slide off the tranny shaft.

ctgreddy

yes by removing the d/s bolts you can slide the shaft out of the trans, or if it starts to leak when you pull the hsaft out of the trans you can prolly just leave it in the trans and tie it up out of the way. as far as torque i'm not sure how much it is exactly, there's no torque rating. it goes by how many inch pounds of force it takes to spin the pinion/pinion nut, when it's just the pinion i like to set it around 22inch pounds, but i'm not sure what that would equate to with the diff, axles, and tires on it. it is very hard to tighten and tightening it just a smidge can greatly affect the inch pounds, this is why i suggest to very carefully mark exactly where the pinion nut is and then just tighten it to be a smidge tighter than before.