Final Drive

[Crashgordon74]

A couple quick questions. What's everyone using to clean the old moly from the splines and final drive and is it really necessary to pull the final drive apart for inspection at 16,000 miles??


                                                                       Crash

[Chrisj CMA]

I just use a rag and a plastic stir stick to scrape grease out of the splines.  Its never necessary to pull the pumpkin apart for inspection.......keep the splines greased keep good hypoid gear oil in it and it will outlive you

[Crashgordon74]

O.K. thanks. I guess I didn't mean to pull the pumpkin apart. I was wondering about the u-joints.

[Michvalk]

If you are pulling the rear tire to replace, that is the best time to look at everything else back there. Really doesn't take a whole lot longer to pull the pumpkin and shaft to inspect. Should lube the splines after cleaning out the old grease anyway, and the other rear maintance. I do mine then, and only spend maybe an extra hour.

[Brian]

I first use a rag and a small screw driver to take the bulk of the old grease off and out. I then place an old cookie sheet under the final drive and use a can of non-chlorinated brake parts cleaner and Q-tips to make sure all the old stuff is removed. The brake cleaner makes the splines look like new. Letting them dry before coating them with GD-525. I used a Q-tip to coat the splines with a thin coat of the moly. All splines receive the same treatment.

[Chrisj CMA]

O.K. thanks. I guess I didn't mean to pull the pumpkin apart. I was wondering about the u-joints.

There should be no need to worry about the U-joint at 16K miles if all is smooth running.  However you should remove the final drive from the swing arm which will have the drive shaft attached everytime the rear wheel comes off for new tires or 10K whichever comes first. Grease the drive splines and both ends of the driveshaft and make sure the oil seal to the pinion cup is set right and has a clean surface to seal against.  Lastly make sure the boot around the U-joint is not torn or dislodged and youre ready for another 10K miles