front axle seal
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Registered User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Fabius, NY
front axle seal
I was skimming some of the posts and saw that someone was replacing his axle seals and he got a thread from someone else on a diy for them and i just had a question(prolly a stupid one) and that is do I have to take the guts out of the pumpkin to do the passenger side and if one is leaking is it a good idea to just do both?
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Fresno, CA
I was skimming some of the posts and saw that someone was replacing his axle seals and he got a thread from someone else on a diy for them and i just had a question(prolly a stupid one) and that is do I have to take the guts out of the pumpkin to do the passenger side and if one is leaking is it a good idea to just do both?
Pulling the brakes/hub/CAD is pretty simple from what I hear, but installing the new seal inside the axle can be tricky. You have to buy a special tool to install the seal, or make your own tool with washers and threaded rod.
For the DIY thread, just search "DIY front end" and you'll see it.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
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From: Gainesville, Ga.
also see the seal and ujoint threads in the tech section over on pavementsucks. those are good write ups too.
axle seals can be only a mild mother ********* pain in the *** or a major mother, depending on whether you can remove the big 1-11/16 axle nut or not, and then whether you can get the bearing out of the knuckle or not. only after you get all this off, and the cad off, can you get to the $10 seal on the passenger side. and if this isn't enough, then you pull the pumpkin to get to the $10 seal on the driver side.
here's my opinion. set aside 1 or 2 days and tear the front end apart. check/replace brakes, check/replace hub bearings, CAD bushings (search for part numbers), axle u-joints (precision 377 greaseable), clean the axle tubes, and finally.....seals. do it all once, get it over with, hopefully never do it again.
axle seals can be only a mild mother ********* pain in the *** or a major mother, depending on whether you can remove the big 1-11/16 axle nut or not, and then whether you can get the bearing out of the knuckle or not. only after you get all this off, and the cad off, can you get to the $10 seal on the passenger side. and if this isn't enough, then you pull the pumpkin to get to the $10 seal on the driver side.
here's my opinion. set aside 1 or 2 days and tear the front end apart. check/replace brakes, check/replace hub bearings, CAD bushings (search for part numbers), axle u-joints (precision 377 greaseable), clean the axle tubes, and finally.....seals. do it all once, get it over with, hopefully never do it again.
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Registered User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Fabius, NY
ok thanks guys for the input the hub bearings shouldnt be too bad I just replaced those but like an idiot I should have just replaced the seals and the axle shafts u-joints then but I didn't. I will just keep n eye on the fluid in the front axle till it gets warmer here then tackle this fun job! Thanks again for the help.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Suwanee, GA
ok thanks guys for the input the hub bearings shouldnt be too bad I just replaced those but like an idiot I should have just replaced the seals and the axle shafts u-joints then but I didn't. I will just keep n eye on the fluid in the front axle till it gets warmer here then tackle this fun job! Thanks again for the help.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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you do not have to remove the axle nut to seperate the hub from axle if your not replacing the hub.it all slides out as one unit.clean axle shaft end and inside the knuckle were hub slides in with emory cloth.lightly coat the end of the axle with grease up to were the seal rides prior to sliding it back in.