On the outside of the cad? If so its already junk. But what exactly does it do. I mean what oil does it hold? Or is it more of a dust cover?

 

If you are talking about a seal that is right near the ujoints on the outer part of the axle by the ujoints, you are right, it is just a dust cover and most rams don't even have them. As far as removing the intermediate shaft, you don't have to remove the seal in the CAD to take the shaft out. But, if you are not careful it can get damaged.

 

i was unable to slide the intermediate shaft all the way out and past the cad without removing the oil seal. i don't remember why - something wouldn't fit - maybe it was the carrier end splines.

it might be possible to slide it almost all the way out, replace the bushings, and not destroy or remove the oil seal.

 

both shafts are the same size, however, odds are when the intermediate shaft is removed the seal will get damaged, as it's not as easy to slide out like the outer shaft.

 

the cad is a wet area, with differential oil splashing up in there and lubricating the collar, shift fork, etc. the oil seal is at the outside edge of the cad cavity.

 

as i remember it, the splines on the output shaft are pretty big, doesnt seem like they'd safely fit through the seal. guess you could risk it...

the seal to the outside of the CAD IS NOT A DUST SHIELD! that feller keeps you from running dry! its the oil seal

 

Sorry Matty, but some do come with an outer seal on the end of the axle tube by the ujoint. And it is basically just a dust shield. I'm not talking about the seal inside the CAD.

Edit: And if you think about it, how can the intermediate shaft be bigger than the outer shaft? The collar would not slide on to it.

 

the splines on the outside end of the intermediate shaft are the exact same size as the splines on the inside end of the outer shaft. as you said, the collar slides back and forth over both of these ends.

however, the splines on the inside end of the intermediate shaft, where it slides into the side gears of the carrier, if i remember right, are larger.... and won't fit through the oil seal at the cad.

i cussed this little detail a lot, because it required me to remove a perfectly good seal in order to remove the intermediate shaft.


matt and zman are saying the same thing with different words - matt is right, the outer edge of the cad is an oil seal. zman is right, the slinger at the end of the tube is a dust seal.

 

Great! I was asking if it was an oil seal or not because the cad is dry!

 

cad cavity should be wet, holding about a cupful of diff oil which slings out of the diff, along the axle, and then drains back into the diff in the bottom of the axle tube.

if your cad is dry, something is wrong, and it might be connected to your worn out bearings/bushings and oil seal in the cad area.