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Axle seal quality question

Old Jan 7, 2015 | 04:26 PM
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Default Axle seal quality question

Gonna do both front axle seals on my truck (96 ram 1500 D44). Just wondering if there are any preferred brands or , those to stay away from . Not something I wanna do twice .

Thanks for any input
 
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Old Jan 7, 2015 | 04:40 PM
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Go with a good quality brand of seal. Pay as much as you have to for them. Doing the drivers side is a major pain, and a job you most certainly don't wanna have to do again. Gotta pull the carrier to get to it. (not exactly what I consider a brilliant design decision....) Timkin, National, or similar.
 
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Old Jan 7, 2015 | 04:58 PM
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Originally Posted by HeyYou
Go with a good quality brand of seal. Pay as much as you have to for them. Doing the drivers side is a major pain, and a job you most certainly don't wanna have to do again. Gotta pull the carrier to get to it. (not exactly what I consider a brilliant design decision....) Timkin, National, or similar.
i am getting axle seals as well and was considering timken. but you have to pull the carrier to change the outer seals?
 
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Old Jan 7, 2015 | 05:00 PM
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The outers are just dust sheilds, they don't really seal anything. Mine aren't even there any more. The seals that actually keep the gear lube in the axle are a bit deeper. Passenger side is inside the CAD housing. Drivers side is inside the axle tube, and the only way to get that one changed is pull the carrier.
 
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Old Jan 7, 2015 | 05:13 PM
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Thanks , I was thinking Timkin or National should be good . $15 a seal here in good ol' pricy Canada

Video's of the process on you-tube jmhd1989. It's not bad , just time consuming , and you need a seal driver set .
 
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Old Jan 7, 2015 | 10:39 PM
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I've used them all and here is my preference - SFK, National and Timken is dead last. While Timken bearings are great, the quality of their seals leave a lot to be desired from my experience. The difference in quality between SFK and Timken was like night and day. I had two Dana 60 Timken rear hub seal leak on me. Replaced them both with SFK and had no issue whatsoever.
 
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