Rear axle seal

B

Beechtech

Junior Member
I pulled the rear drum off and the bearing, brakes and drum are full of oil not grease. Is this the seal in the axle housing that is leaking? I also think the bearing pulled apart a little because the drum does not go all the way on now.
 

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The bearing and seal should come off with the hub. The seal should be a press fit inside the hub once the bearing is inserted. There should also be a snap ring installed after the seal.
 
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There is an axle seal inside of the axle housing that is different than the one on the wheel bearing. To change the axle seal you must remove the axle housing and punch out the seal. To install the new seal you'll need a long pipe with special end to push the seal into place.
 
Too much grease was probably pumped into the wheel bearing. No seal will stop over greasing
 
RonC said:
Too much grease was probably pumped into the wheel bearing. No seal will stop over greasing
Click to expand...

This is true,

I've also heard its much better to just hand pack the rear wheel bearings every so often as its possible to blow the seals out in the axle housing (MUCH harder to replace than the drum seal...)

whole grease zerk location seems completely complicated and not well thought out in my opinion. On paper it seems like an ingenious design but in real world not so much...
 
Clean the rear bearing, then hand pack it with grease. I like Mystik JT-6 High Temp red grease. Slip the bearing into the hub, the tap in a new seal. Be sure to install the seal just enough to get the snap ring in place. When you install the hub be sure the axle key doesn't slip out of place.
 
If it is truly oil the small inner seal is the likely culprit, they are often installed backwards. Do not overfill the diff, I keep mine down 3/8" to a 1/2". As Larry Seeman says, the housings must be off to change them.
 
I figured I would be pulling the axle to change the seals. The wheel bearing does not come off, I can spin it but not pull it off. Should it slid off the inner race?
 
In looking at the photos closer and I could be wrong but I don't see a seal..? was the bearing just on and riding back and forth spinning grease out. At minimum you need the hub/drum cleaned up and rear brakes done ( probably both sides) . Make sure the rear hub bearing gets cleaned/packed and a new inner hub seal and outer axle seal ring as well. The rear axle housing seals can be bad and all still good. As Jim said just don't overfill the banjo housing. and park sideways on a steep hill.

Depending on necessity and funds it might just be a time to do it all right and do the rear axle, rear brakes/hubs/drums. Of course I build/service them like they are going everywhere even if many of them don't. You have an excellent service source out your way of Arlyn Beiber and Bill right there in San Diego area. Aryln is on this forum.

Larry Shepard
Larry
 
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