Just decided for the hell of it to take a tour under my truck. Found a slow leak in that RTV stuff they use (why they don't use gaskets anymore I don't know). The leak must have been going on for awhile, cause the fluid level is down. Of course how far down is hard to tell since all you can feel in that little check hole is diff gears unless the fluid is right to the top.

Sure am happy I caught it though, as I was about to make a 80-100 mile trip, which I will postpone until tomorrow after I fix everything. Can anyone say "hot axle"?

 

I recently converted 8.8" diff. (under my 94 Ranger) from open to an Eaton-Posi. Before installiation I had noticed a small leak at bottom of rear cover. Luckily I didn't have to drive the truck much until I could do the install.

Upon removal of the rear cover, I was very suprised that the Ranger had a plastic (or carbon fiber) rear diff. cover. I had done 8.8" diff's in the past; however, I swore that they all had metal diff. covers on them. Last 8.8 I did was probably out of a 1987 Econoline van.

Bearings & R/P were perfect in the Ranger diff. Evidently the diff. wasnt wery low on lube. Just for safety, I installed a new set of diff. side brg. (cups & cones) which were p/n: A36.

The old open carrier & diff. nest assy. were like new. No wear at all. Only had 22,350 miles on them.