Rear end leaks

[markha1]

Any one have any information on chronic rear end leaks from the wheel seals?

I have replaced mine 4 times and can't seem to get them to stop leaking. What am I doing wrong??? I have tried placing the new seals with the spring in towards the bearing and out towards the outside. I am bottoming the seal in the hub. I have lost so much 90 weight my tires smell:{ and are coated on the insides. I have already replaced 1 complete brake shoe set because of contamination. The seals are from a local parts house. Now I think that the bearings are going bad because of a strong vibration @55. I noticed this before and the jackpot oil was almost nonexistent. help help help !!!

 

[cerberusiam]

Probably have a groove wore where the oil seal runs and it won't seal any more. Pretty typical.



Try no bottoming the seal in the hub and see if that works. Sometimes you can get luck and get off the groove.



The other option is a speedy sleeve for the hub and that will stop it. I've had to sleeve one side on mine while the other is holding with the seal out a little farther.

 

[pepecat]

Also make sure your axle breather tube is clear of any obstructions.

 

[markha1]

Speedy sleeve..... any one know the PN and where it can be gotten ??

 

[markha1]

By the way, which way is the correct way to install the seals?

 

[PToombs]

The spring goes towards the oil.

Pack a little grease in on the spring. Sometimes if you drive the seal in hard, the spring will pop out, and no tension on the seal.

 

[dpuckett]

Um, isnt there a plate thinie over the spring of th eseal, or is that just specific to the duallies? I've never had the rear hub off a SRW in person.....



Daniel

 

[Greenleaf]

Some seals do look the way you described. Not specific to the truck. Phillip recommends the National. They appear that way. I use the standard CR from NAPA. They have the spring exposed.



To locate the sleeve, use the seal no. and have the local NAPA tell YOU what the number is. Or, measure the sealing surface (O. D. ) of the housing where the lip rides. I mean measure to the nearest . 001 inch. Don't use your tape.



Sorry. I looked. Can't locate the one I have... ... ... ...



OK, I looked in my bOOk;



250 trk 99287

350 trk 99253

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I had the same problem with my '93 - until I installed a Mag-Hytech diff cover. I fill the rear diff using the dip stick which esentially over fills the rear end by about a quart - no more problems. I got 100,000 miles on the last set and the only reason I changed the seals was because of new brakes. Everyone says not to overfill them but this appeared to be a benifit from overfilling.



Bob

 

[paccool]

I had to install the sleeves on both sides of the truck. Ruined the shoes and had to replace them at the same time as the seals. Since it was apart, also replace the wheel bearings.

 

[BDaugherty]

Another possibility if the seals are good and the hub doesn't have a groove is that the wheel bearings are too loose. It's not as common, but I've seen it several times where someone did "everything" trying to get a rear end to seal and it turned out that the bearings were just too loose and let the hub move around on the spindle too much and killed every seal that was installed.

 

[pepecat]

I use TIMKIN wheel seals and bearings

 

[JLEONARD]

Yes please use TIMKEN bearings, best in the world.



(Thus helping to insure my retirement checks keep a commin'. )

 

[markha1]

OK, I got the hub off today and here is the scoop. The brake drum on the OUTSIDE is dripping wet with rear end oil, the INSIDE is completely DRY no oil at all not even a stain. I am truely befuddeled now! The axel seal where it bolts on to the hub was also completely dry. What the !?!?! How can the oil possibly be getting all over the drum on the outside and running all over the tire and not on any brake components ? What do I do ??? Truck on jack stands for now. WAHHH WAHH WAHHH

 

[cerberusiam]

OK, I got the hub off today and here is the scoop. The brake drum on the OUTSIDE is dripping wet with rear end oil, the INSIDE is completely DRY no oil at all not even a stain. I am truely befuddeled now! The axel seal where it bolts on to the hub was also completely dry. What the !?!?! How can the oil possibly be getting all over the drum on the outside and running all over the tire and not on any brake components ? What do I do ??? Truck on jack stands for now. WAHHH WAHH WAHHH

Can you trace a source for the oil?



Most common place would be where the axle mates to the hub. There should be a metal shim/seal between the hub and the axle flange. If that is bad, missing, or messed up, the axle flage or hub face messed up you could very well have a leak there that will make a mess of the outside of the hub and drum. Otherwise, a cracked hub will cause the same issues. Clean it up good and drive it for a bit then pull the wheel again and look for the source of the leaks if nothing presents as obvious.





Cheers

 

[pepecat]

there is an oil slinger ring on the inside of the hub that transports all the leaking axle lube oil to the outside of the hub/drum assy. It is doing its job but you still have a leaking axle seal... How full do you have the axle?

 

[markha1]

Ok... more information, replaced all weel berings and cups, both seals(again) torqued weel tube nuts to the high side of spec, and for now..... dry. However this has hapened before..... so I will keep you all posted to see if it leaks again.

P. S. T set the seals to the outer edge with the springs facing the oil and wetted them with 90wt. also took the pumpkin cover off. The mag was covered with "fuzz" cleaned it and reinstalled it. Used premium purple synthetic gear oil @ 19. 00 a qt.

 

[dpuckett]

When you torqued the axle nut, you DID back it off 120deg or so, right?



DP

 

[pepecat]

When you torqued the axle nut, you DID back it off 120deg or so, right?

DP

By the hammer of Thor, I hope so!

 

[markha1]

Yes I did, i followed the book and seated the berarings with an impact driver and backed them off until I could move the nut with my fingers... ... . WAIT! That wasnt right, all kidding aside yes after I seated them I backed off 1/3 of a turn.

gotcha

Mark H