i had thread regarding a different topic that stumbled into this topic so i thought id post a new thread.

my right axle oil seal is leaking after my mechanic replaced it, so i took it back he inspected it and said the only reason he could find was that the sealing surface on the shaft looked like it may be nicked. could he have installed the seal wrong? he took out the carrier to install it, not having the special tool.

someone on DF said it could be the wheel bearing, u joint, or axle shaft bearing causing the leak. i discovered the wheel bearing is indeed bad.

so whats the best route to take? heres what i was thinking:
get a used axle shaft, seal replacement kit from quad 4x4, replace the u joint, new wheel bearing, and axle shaft bearing.

is there anything im missing or anything im replacing uneccesarliy? could it be just the wheel bearing causing the leak?

 

Pull that axle shaft out and check the sealing surface, it'll be the shiny spot toward the end.
There is a good chance that the guy got the seal in a little crooked, it can be a bit of a pain to get in there straight if you don't use the right tool.
I hit mine with some 400 grit sandpaper to make sure there weren't any burrs or anything and the seals haven't leaked since replacing them.

 

Open up the CAD and make sure the spring is on the back of the seal.

 

i don't think he'll be able to see the spring with the axle in place. its pretty deep in the cavity. maybe.

the thing about these axles that just kills me... its assembled completely backwards, with the seals on the inside, and the heavy iron on the outside.

so to replace a $10 leaking seal, or $5 bushing, you get to disassemble the entire son a bitch, including the brakes, and then put it all back together again.

 

I think you can see it, by using a flat screwdriver and gently pressing the rubber lip. Besides the fact it may be just floating around the shaft or laying in the bottom of the CAD opening. Of course I will say, as has been said, it is most likely not properly installed since the mech. did not have the correct tool. Which by the way, for the mechanic,would have paid for itself on that one job.

 

didnt realize there were so many components, dvaughn listed and explained many of them but i dont beleive i know what this spring is or what its purpse is?

 

There is a small round spring on the back of the seal going around the rubber lip to keep some tension on it, for a tighter seal.

 

edit - you beat me to it and said the same thing in less words.


the seal has a rubber sealing surface with a groove formed in it.
installed inside the groove is a small spring.
when everything is installed right, the spring will be slightly expanded, so that it applies sealing pressure onto the rubber lip.

 

ok and im just checking to see if its in place?

if it is in place, what would you reccomend?

 

Here is the exact seal in question, with the spring partially removed