Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Front Axle Seals

[NM_DSLMan]

New member and long time lurker trying to find the part numbers for the inner axle seals for what I belive is a DANA 60. My trucks seals have stared leaking with 114,000 miles on them. Are there better seals than installed at the factory and who carries them? What else should I look into fixing while the front end is apart, kinkpins? Is there any reason that the seals don't last longer than what I got out of them? Thanks in advance.

 

[PC12Driver]

I've picked up all my axle related stuff from Dan at Quad4x4. He'll sell you a kit with all the parts and unique tools needed to do the job. And most of his kits come with a how-to video. His prices are good, too.



The hard part will probably be getting the hub assembly off (do a search-there is a bunch of threads about that headache) And once that's out, you may as well replace the ball joints, too (mine lasted about 60k miles).

 

[MorrisN]

You should put stainless steel sleeves on the axles so that your seal will last. The old seals probably have made grooves where they ride on the axles.

 

[RJPotts]

I think 120,000 is about the limit for factory seals. I just replaced the rears on my '96 with 126K. Waiting to do the fronts. Anyone done it, how much more of a pain are the fronts as opposed to the rears?

I replaced both rear seals cleaned and packed the bearings, replaced the wheel cylinders and put all new brake components on in about 2 hours (not including bleeding the brakes). How long should I allot for the fronts?

Thanks,

-R. J.

 

[Popiol]

Right Side Mopar # 1-045060005

 

[MorrisN]

It is much harder. You must remove the front bearing unit. THe axle nut can be very hard to get off unless you have a big wrench. You have to remove the diff to get at left seal. The right seal is very hard to put as you have trouble getting to it. I had to make a special tool to pull the seal in place. I took my axles to a machine shop to have the sleeves install. Easy to screw them up, they machined the edge off so the sleeve would start

Good luck

 

[n7gxz]

NM_DSLMan:



Here is a write up that I did on changing the front axle seals on my 2001. I have the seal numbers listed in the write up. The numbers can be had at NAPA. The document is in MSWord format and is about 850K in size.



Front Seal Replacement



Kevin

 

[MorrisN]

A final point if your seal were leaking you will have to clean the inside of the axle housing. Mine were full of oily sand and hard to clean.

 

[NM_DSLMan]

Thanks for all the info. Looks like I will start getting the parts and tools together so I can tackle this job in acouple of weeks. Until then I'll just keep an eye on the oil level.

 

[SConklin]

For just the right (passenger side) seal, can it be done without pulling the differential appart?
Skyler

 

[Nate]

The seals aren't too bad to replace, just that you have to pull the axle apart, and that takes a bit of time. Took me almost a full day to do the ones on my truck. The driver's side seal is easy because you have room to work after you pull the diff out. The passenger's side is harder since there is little room. I made a little "installer" from some muffler pipe I had laying around, it's like 3/4" tall. stick it over the seal, and then I ran a pipe down the axle from the driver's side and put it against the "installer". Tap the pipe with a hammer and that's all it takes.



I didn't have any trouble with the unit bearings or anything like that. Had 145000 on the truck and it had never been touched... still the factory oil in the diffs even