Inner Axle seals

Bobster

Bobster

Member
I have ordered inner axle seals from two suppliers. All the seals came with no spring backing up the rubber seal. My original / replaced seal that I removed had the spring support. Can better inner seals be ordered? I would like the best components to go back in my axles. Do not want to repeat this process in the near future. I like working on these old Phords, but like driving 'em better! Thanks, BW
 
BW...

Welcome to the 21st Century.

I know the kind you mean and I think the originals were of "leather" flange in stead of the "rubber" now used and with the spring. new ones do not come with a spring.

You might want to find a bearing and seal company in your area...there are a few and ask them about the older types but I think you will reach a dead end...if not, please let us know.

Pluck
 
The original seals were made of leather and needed the spring to push the leather against the axle shaft. The ones available today from the Model A suppliers use a neoprene seal and they seal to the axle just fine without a spring. I have installed several hundred of them without a problem.

Contrary to some popular belief the seal is there to prevent the rear wheel bearing grease from going toward the differential when pumped in throught the grease fitting instead of going toward the rear wheel bearing as desired. It is not there to prevent oil from the differential from migrating into the wheel. I suspect if you parked the car on a steep angle and had too much oil in the banjo it could migrate up against the seal, but not likely in normal operation.

In many of the rear ends I tear apart I find the original CR (Chicago Rawhide) leather seals still in place and completely shot. Owners continually pumping grease in through the grease fitting (if it can get through at all) are pumping grease in that will not be forced toward the wheel bearing. Instead, it travels down the axle shaft toward the differential. Often when disassembling a rear end I find that the centrifical action of the axle shaft has caused the grease to "grow" to sometimes a half inch in diameter around the axle shaft and can be as much as a foot long. At the end of the grease I often find a section of the axle shaft rusted which tells me that oil from the differential did not get that far up the axle shaft.

If you examine the inside of the wheel bearing end of an axle housing you will note that there is a circular groove just outboard of where the seal resides. The grease fitting is in the center of this groove. When grease is pumped in through the fitting (if the fitting channel and the groove are not plugged with crud) the grease is forced by the seal to travel outboard through the space between the axle shaft and the inside diameter of the wheel bearing hub. From there it continues until it is blocked by the seal that is located in the drum hub next to the wheel bearing. The two seals create a blocked compartment that the grease should fill in order to provide grease for the rear wheel bearing.

Tom Endy
 
mine were the same . no leaks in 5000 miles . just be very carefull putting the in ........... steve
 
I have replaced the inner seals in my axles. The original Chicago Rawhide seals were removed (both worn out - springs showing). They worked well for 82 years, so I can't fault them. Hope the new seals work out for the same period of time! Went to NAPA and a couple of other suppliers to try to match the old seal to a new type, but there is no number stamped on the old seal for reference. So, I guess we are stuck with the after market ones. Got to install some new brake shoes, and then hit the road this weekend! Thanks for all the input on this topic. This forum is my other "source" besides the restoration books I have. Regards, BW
 
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