My C's are dripping gear oil, so I figure my axel seal on the pass side is shot. I consider my self fairly competent with tools. Replacing these, is something simple and cheap or laborious and costly.

 

cheap and laborious....lol

get the proper tool or you will definitely damage the seals..( trust me )

I advise to get 2 sets of seals just in case

 

It's not an overly complicated or expensive job, but it will take quite a bit of time. The seals must be changed from the inside of the pumpkin, which means pulling out the axle shafts and and the guts inside your differential. I think I saw a write up somewhere here.

 

Here it is!

Dana 44 Front Axle and Seal Replacement

 

Damn, that's a lot, a lot of work to do solo. I'm about to enact the draft.

 

Thanks for the right up too

 

I searched and searched without luck at finding the installation tool (removal is easy with a screwdriver). That tool for those unfamiliar, is a turnbuckle that simultaneously presses in both seals from inside the pumpkin. We ended up taking a piece of thick, two-inch pipe and cutting off about three inches of it. Welded a square plate closing off one side of it, and on the other end we cleaned it up so it was smooth (that would press on the seal, which we didn't want to damage, of course). Then took a long, smaller piece of one-inch pipe and ran it through the axle shaft on the opposite side of the seal. One person guided the makeshift tool and one-inch pipe into place on the new seal while another hammered on the other end of the one-inch pipe. Did it the other direction, being very careful to not damage the set seal as we guided the one-inch pipe through it to the second seal (replace both seals while you're in there). It worked for us. Do, however, check your axle shafts carefully for damage. Mine were damaged (Chromoly) and required machining to smooth out the roughness (caused from too much mud and river running).