Rear Hub scare

M

MrWzrd

BANNED
Decided today was a good day to go through the rear end on the A.

Started with banjo and, although the fluid was very low and twice as thick as 600W should be, all gears were intact and surfaces showing virtually no wear. Flushed it out and put in fresh lube.

And that, as they say, was the good news part of the day.

Then I pulled the wheels off.... grease e v e r y w h e r e..... The entire back of the drivers side wheel was coated as was the castle nut. Pax side had a little but about what I would expect.

Pulled the cotter pin and was able to.... (ready for this?) remove the nut AND the hub without tools...... both sides.

Boy, I'm thinking trouble ahead......

Drivers side hub had no fiber washer to seal the end. Drivers side had a rubber hose washer. (I've seen that used on other cars so I have no issue with it as long as a quality one is used. This one was not)

First glance had me still worried about damage....but I seem to have received a Christmas present from the high priests of all things mechanical. Disassembled inspection shows no damage ... anywhere!

Everything cleaned, lubed and reassembled although I am going to replace the seals and have to decide whether to use silicone seals or order some fiber seals and install them
 
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Jazzjr said:
You probably have to remove the entire Rear End and Spring. To Look over everything and Replace the inner Axle Seals, as some one put Mud (Heavy Lube) in the Center Housing so as oil would not run out! Not a fun Job, but a Necessary one it sounds like to Me with your Situation. Better change the Drive shaft Seal also while you have it apart.
Differential Repair Ins
Click to expand...

Nobody put Mud in the differential.... the lube level was low and old. It was 600W that was in there but it was about as fluid as grease. I've been working my way from front to back putting this thing back in running shape. Mostly it has been cleaning out old crusty, thick, gunky lubricants and putting in fresh although because regular lubrication has been neglected I've been having to replace worn parts and bushings.

The inner axle seals are not leaking at all and unless they start to I'm not pulling the rear end apart.

The grease all over the backside of the wheel was from the missing fiber seal at the very end of the axle. The seal that sits in the groove under the washer and castle nut.
 
An over zealous person with a grease gun at the fitting below the outer portion of the housing underneath may account for having grease into the drum area. There are still many A's which could use a good looking after in their mechanical innards.
 
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