So after towing my buddy's motorcycle on a trailer today, I went over to the shop and got my truck up in the air to look at the U-joints and noticed that I had a completely rusted through U-bolt that holds the axle to the leaf springs ...

So THAT'S what that clunking sound was! lol ... I picked up four new U-bolts at a local spring shop and I'll have 'er fixed tomorrow, but I sure am glad that I found this. And that my truck did so well pulling the trailer. I love my rusty truck. I'll get some pictures tomorrow

 

Well now that I've replaced the U-bolts, and I've disturbed all the rust and gunk under there, my axle housing is leaking. Great. I need a new rear end now.

Simple fix/anyone willing to sell one to me for cheap?

 

Where is it leaking from and what is making you think you'll have to replace it?

 

Leaking from where the U-bolt and bracket touch the axle. I figured if it's rusty enough to start leaking after I replace the U bolts and disturb the rust, then perhaps it's time for a new housing/axle?

I dunno. Imma have my buddy check it out and see what he thinks. Just pisses me off that I replace u bolts and have this problem come up ...

 

Well I had 'er up on jack sands today and it looks more like the axle seal is leaking badly. Really there's oil everywhere, so it's hard to tell. So I checked the diff fluid and it was about half a bottle low ... what's the worst that could happen if I drive it around with low diff fluid? I wear the gears down too fast? Gets too hot and I burn up the bearings and seals?

Imma take it to my buddy and see what he thinks.

 

low diff fluid will shred your gears from friction and heat.

 

Well I've been driving it since I noticed the leak ... so hopefully the gears are still okay. I can't really afford a new set of gears ... and if they did go, I'd change them up to like a 3.4ish. My 2.74 is just .... well a bit lame for my liking. Combined with a 305, the ride tends to be a bit slow. It did haul/pull about 1k lbs of scrap steel last week quite nicely though.

 

Well I let the oil I refilled the axle leak out, cleaned the spot and put JB Weld on it and it seems to hold perfectly. Problem solved as long as it holds good.

Also, is it odd that I've noticed that the truck has smoother/less grindy feeling when accelerating after changing out probably 50% of the diff fluid? It honestly feels like it has more power.