Diff Housing cleaning

[gzig5]

Any good tricks for cleaning the inside of the tubes and center section of a 8 3/4" housing that has been sitting for a while without being fully sealed up? Not terribly rusted inside but there is some and I want to be sure to get al the gunk/rust out of the tubes that might come loose in the future. Hot tank would be great but I don't think there is one near by so it will be a home shop project when it warms up.

 

[Demonic]

A 2" or so boiler tube brush would work well. the center section is easy to clean with steel wool and Spray nine. The link is for a larger brush, but you get the idea.

3" Round, Wire, Boiler Tube Brush Head - MB3W

 

[Garrett Ellison]

That and naval jelly and lots of elbow grease. That type of brush fits on the chimney sweep stuff at your local harbor freight, and I'm wanting to say they have some steel brushes similar to that. A large drill makes the magic happen a lot faster, too. I like to degrease with oven cleaner (caustic soda) and hot water and then attack the rust with phosphoric or hydrofluoric acid based cleaners. Gloves, eye protection, and a mask are all mandatory. Rinse the water out with WD-40 and get a coat of oil or preferably cosmoline based protectant on everything. WD-40 chain wax is pricey but a great cosmoline rust preventative.

 

[gzig5]

The brush is what I was looking for but couldn't come up with. Like a big shotgun bore brush.

I have to take some stuff to the bead blaster. Is that acceptable to use on the outside if I seal the center section and the ends really well? I don't want to be cleaning beads out of the inside, but it seems like I should be able tape it up well enough?

 

[Tooljunkie]

I use a 3” wire wheel on a piece of all-thread. Stick it in drill and go to town. Rinse it out with brake cleaner and spray it down with penetrating oil.
A trip to the car wash wouldnt hurt, but im not sure how clean you want it. De-greased and all the loose grit gone should be good enough. Or bead blast then the car wash.

 

[TheGrateRonzini]

How about muriatic acid or phosphoric acid (evaporust). I really like the wire wheel on all thread idea tho

 

[adriver]

You need clean the gear section?
Hang it in a tree by the yoke.
Put a catch pan under it and hose it out with mineral spirits.
Repeat till clean.
If you think the axle bearing might be OK do about the same with those axles.
Pack with Mobile 1 red grease by hand when through.
Autozone has it.
What have you got to lose?
New bearing cost and are work.

Oven cleaner works good on the housing.