Oil Pan Gasket

[benn]

Hello everyone, just bought a 2001 Tahoe 4x4 with a 5.3 liter engine. It has an oil pan gasket leak near the front corner by the bell housing. I noticed a limited amount of space to drop the pan, do I need to lift the motor a bit or drop the front diff?

Thanks Ben

 

[newthom75]

have have a 99 which also has an oil pan gasket leak. did you ever get your answer

 

[Ojustracing]

I've done a couple of those. You have to drop the diff out.

John

 

[benn]

Oil Pan Leak Reply

Thanks for the info, I so wish this would have came about 6 months ago, that would have saved me a couple hours labor. I was told by someone that worked for Chevy the same thing. Just to save others time if you read this, you only have to take the bolts out of the front diff and lower it with a jack. You don't even have to disconnect the drive shafts. It only took 8 hours on my back to fugure it out. By lowering it a few inches you can slip the oil pan in and out.

Thanks Guys

 

[newthom75]

is there an easier way

 

[Ojustracing]

is there an easier way

.

I just swapped 2 front diff on 2 different trucks today so its fresh. There is a total of 4 bolts holding the diff in. You have to remove the 6 bolts on each halfshaft (halfshafts stay in, 4 front driveshaft bolts(drive stays attached to transfer case), The wiring for the 4wd acutator and 3 wire loom clips, both idler arms and rotate steering to the left and the vent tube. Hook steering to sway bar link with a wire tie. Now if you are thinking the diff drop straight out it does not. You have to roatate it to remove. I had them out in 20 min. A second pair of hand would be a good idea.
Hardest part to me was the idler arms. Other than that its striaght forward removal, but I do this for a living. I didnt look to see if you could rotate and lower with the halfshaft still attached but it may pull apart the inner cv boots.
But both idler arm still have to be Disconnected. Hope this helps

John

 

[newthom75]

thanks

 

[Onatebuawer]

Thank you for*good*communication.
dubli