Cleaning axle housings

[wrndln]

I sandblasted my axle housings and a little sand got inside the housings. I used some rags to clean the insides out. They are pretty clean, but I suspect there is probably a little sand near the seals. Does anyone know if there is a good way to clean the insides out. Does a very small amount of sand cause problems? I would hope to get the housings cleaned well, but if there is a tiny amount or sand left, is it a problem?
Thanks for any help.

[James Rogers]

Put on your rain suit and go to the nearest car wash and pressure wash them out.

[Russ/40]

Yes, it's a problem. You have not said how apart it is. You need to disassemble the bells and flush them out with solvent or mineral spirits.

[eystein]

Murphys law says : What can go wrong, will go wrong. So chances are that your grains of sand are caught up in some dabs of grease and will dislodge later, destroying your bearings. I would not settle for anything less than squeeky clean bellhousings. You need a rubber plug for the hub end, then use kerosene or solvent in the housing and use a spoke brush mounted on a stick to clean the housing. Flush and repeat with fresh kerosene

[Rowdy]

I use an old brake rod with a rag attacked, chuck it up in a drill. Then get a galon of diesel in a 5 galon bucket, dip the rag into the diesel and clean thi insides. After I am confident it is clean I take it to the car wash and wash it out. Rod

[d.j. moordigian]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Rusty,
I'll make that a 4th, clean it , as nice or nicer than your engine.

[redmodelt]

Take em to a shop and have them hot tanked.

[Tom Endy]

My method of cleaning axle housings is that I submerge them in a cleaning tank of solvent. I have a wire brush attached to a piece of angle iron. I scub as much crud out as possible, then wrap a shop rag around the wire brush and scub some more.

When I take them out of the tank and they are dried off I mount them in my vertical jig and turn it horizontal. I shine a light into it to see how clean it is. Often I will take the wire brush with dry rag wrapped around it and spray WD-40 into the housing and scrub some more.

I would certainly not leave any remnants of sand inside as it will get into the bearings. You also want to be sure to scrub out any metal wear particles that are imbedded in the crud.

Tom Endy

[wrndln]

The concern I have about using high pressure water (car wash) is the inside and outside of the housing getting rusted. Since I wouldn't have compressed air available at the car wash, I couldn't quickly dry the housings before they surface rust. The high pressure wash seems like a good idea, except for the rusting potential. The outside is quite nice as it is sandblasted. Maybe I should epoxy prime (DP90) the outside and then take the housing to the car wash and use the high pressure wand to spray the insides. I have already gotten the inside pretty clean, but probably not quite good enough. I suppose I could use some solvent or fuel oil and clean it before the car wash. Thanks to all that have offered advice.
Rusty Nelson

[Craig Lewis]

Oven cleaner.
Eye protection and gloves.
Scraper stick w/washer screwed to end.
Toilet brush with 1/2 loop cut...becomes extended bottle brush.
Garden hose.
Beer?

[Geo. H]

When I cleaned mine, the wife was away, so after I got them as clean as I could in the solvent tank, I wired a rag ball to a broomstick and finished the job in the bath tub with hot soapy water. That was about ten years ago, and no problems have shown up. My dear wife still doesn't know--don't tell her.

[Brentwood Bob]

Plug the end with a rubber stopper from Ace Hardware. fill with Lacquer thinner soak over night, then used a toilet brush attached to schedule 40 plastic pipe.
Followup with simple green, and then a fresh water flush. Check the grease fitting, especially with your sand problem.
As for the surface rust try a rust converter.Bob

[Farrell In Vancouver]

I'll third on the toilet brush...........the wife still can't find it.

[larrys40]

Upon disassembly and preferably before blastingthe outside take it to the nearest high pressure spray off car wash, set them up on the sides and soak with Gunk engine cleaner.. let soak for a few minutes and then spray off with the high pressure soap through each end. Of course all bearing races and seal should be removed previously. You may need to do the gunk treat and spray a couple of times. Getback home and rag them out and they will look nice and clean. If you wish spreay a little non residue brake clean to flush them again.

Of course if you have a hot tank or don't mind paying for one that is an option as well. Once cleaned you can blast the exterior and blow clean and reflush with cleaner on the inside. I do usually like to cap the ends anyway as you're better off not getting any grit in there if you don't have too.
Larry S

[TinCup]

Originally Posted by Craig Lewis

Oven cleaner.
Eye protection and gloves.
Scraper stick w/washer screwed to end.
Toilet brush with 1/2 loop cut...becomes extended bottle brush.
Garden hose.
Beer?

Glad to see you didn't leave out the main ingredient.