Unless you want to spend hours slapping on navel jelly and scraping it offblasting is the way to go. And sand will get everywhere there is no way around it.
Know How Notes How To Service Your Differential
Best way to clean axle housing. Best way to cleandegrease old axle housings. First remove the axle bolts then attach axle puller foot to lug nuts then slide hammer that axle out. Take a look at his site and you will see that he has many many options from just the axles all the way up to the complete kit. A slide hammer kit like the one shown is used to pull the axles out of the housing. Once the cover is shiny run a magnet around the. Remove the cover first allowing all the oil to drain out.
Remove your tie rod or loosen one side and get it out of the way. It seemed to do an okay job. Clean the axles let dry then paint with 299 per can flat or semi gloss black paint. Autozone had the slide hammer and the axle puller for rent. A basic degreaser or just a series of shop towels is all thats necessary to clean out the housing cover. Naxja forums north american xj association naxja unibody jeep technical forums jeep cherokee xj 1984 2001 modified tech discussion.
Remove all the bolts on the differential cover. I started cleaning the rear axle housing to prepare it for paint i was using a wire brush and a plastic scrubber both attached to a drill. Just did thisspray with degreaser rent borrow or steal a power sprayer i used a 2200 psi sprayer. Touch up as needed these are offroad vehicles no need to show and shine. Use gloves you wont mind throwing away. Shipping was 450 to massena ny.
Sand blasting will most certainly clean the housing. I got the order correct here 50 of the time.
Gallery of Best Way To Clean Axle Housing
