2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission rear axle seals

[pbell]

this is the second time my rear axle seals are leaking. i read about putting a sleave around the axle tube where the seal rides. has anyone done this, which i am sure some of you have, and if so where can the sleaves be purchased? i am tired of this problem! i appreciate any help!

 

[Camara]

I have used Speedi Sleeves for other applications. Mostly for slow speed. The only thing I find is that you need the installation tool to put them on right. I purchase mine at the large truck repair facilities and bearing and seal shops.

 

[parcher]

I did this on the Dana 60in my '85 gasser. I measured the diameter of the seal surface and went to the auto parts store. The parts guy will look at you like you're from mars when you ask him for seal savers but they are in the federal mogul catalog and probably in other seal catalogs as well, they are listed by dimension not by application. they come with a "tool" to install them but it work on our axles, I made a tool out of a piece of exhaust tubing. I cleaned the seal surface really well and applied loc-tite to the inside of the seal saver and drove it on. The seal saver has a weak spot in it so you can peel the driving flange off. I then filed the exposed edge og the seal saver back so it was flush with the end of the seal surface and put a shallow taper on it, it's no good if it nicks the new seal as you're putting it on now is it?. I tried a lot of different things before I did this and this STOPPED my oily brake problem. The seal savers I got were about 40 bucks each but well worth it in my opinion.

 

[LSMITH]

Fill the axle correctly and I would bet your seal problems go away.



Fill it right up to the fill plug, put the plug in and jack one side up at least 6" off the ground, wait about 2 minutes, let it down and wait about 2 minutes. Pull the plug and refill it to the fill hole. Jack up the other side at least 6", wait about 2 minutes, and let it down. Wait about 2 minutes and fill it back up the bottom of the fill hole.



The seals can run semi dry if you use the procsedure in the FSM to fill the diff. You need to fill the axle tubes, then let the level equalize so they don't run dry. 3 axle seals went before I started doing it this way, and nearly 100K miles later I have not had another problem.

 

[LSMITH]

Fill the axle correctly and I would bet your seal problems go away.



Fill it right up to the fill plug, put the plug in and jack one side up at least 6" off the ground, wait about 2 minutes, let it down and wait about 2 minutes. Pull the plug and refill it to the fill hole. Jack up the other side at least 6", wait about 2 minutes, and let it down. Wait about 2 minutes and fill it back up the bottom of the fill hole.



The seals can run semi dry if you use the procsedure in the FSM to fill the diff. You need to fill the axle tubes, then let the level equalize so they don't run dry. 3 axle seals went before I started doing it this way, and nearly 100K miles later I have not had another problem.