Storage of a rear diff
January 16th, 2021, 01:50 PM
#1
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Location: Evansville, IN
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Storage of a rear diff
I have a rear axle from a 67 442 and axle shafts that are out of it that I bought a few years back. I am wondering about the gears rusting up. I think I may build a lumber jig for it and crack it open and look, or at least add a lot of gear oil. Is there a standard way to mothball a separate rear end regarding gear oil?
January 16th, 2021, 06:46 PM
#4
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I doubt there would be much rust as long as the rearend had oil in it and was sealed as it would be under the car.
About 10 years ago I built a couple of short (maybe 18" tall) saw horses out of 2x4s to hold the rearend I was rebuilding. They are tall enough so the pinion yoke points to the ground and keeps the gears bathed in oil. You could make something like that and just let the diff oil keep things from rusting, or as the 3 rearends behind my garage have been for 15 years, bolt some wheels on and let them sit. I have never seen the innards of a diff rusted from sitting around as long as they had oil in them (I bought plenty over the years) but the outsides are a different story.
About 10 years ago I built a couple of short (maybe 18" tall) saw horses out of 2x4s to hold the rearend I was rebuilding. They are tall enough so the pinion yoke points to the ground and keeps the gears bathed in oil. You could make something like that and just let the diff oil keep things from rusting, or as the 3 rearends behind my garage have been for 15 years, bolt some wheels on and let them sit. I have never seen the innards of a diff rusted from sitting around as long as they had oil in them (I bought plenty over the years) but the outsides are a different story.
January 16th, 2021, 09:22 PM
#5
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Location: Evansville, IN
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That and UDDER BUTTER or bag balm.
I bought this rear from Ed Skaff shortly before his passing. The axle shafts aren't in it, although I have them. I suspect there is some oil in there, but I never tilted it to find out. I like the nose down idea.
I bought this rear from Ed Skaff shortly before his passing. The axle shafts aren't in it, although I have them. I suspect there is some oil in there, but I never tilted it to find out. I like the nose down idea.
January 17th, 2021, 04:41 AM
#6
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Location: Aledo, Texas
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I believe that so long as the unit has gear oil in it and is stored indoors, your concerns will be minimal. Especially if you take the time to roll the pinion over a few times every year. I have encountered differentials with significant pitting on the top of the ring gear (outside of the oil bath). Cosmoline is great stuff too, nearly all of the ferris parts I deal with in aviation are coated with it. I have four differentials stored in my garage (not installed) and have almost no concern for corrosion. Of course I am in North Texas and not in a salt air rich climate like the Bahamas. It is much more of a viable concern if you are coastal but even then, roll it through every so often. Same applies storing engines
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