rear hub axle seal replacement

[JohnsonG]

So went to adjust the rear e-brake on my 03 2500 4x2, 11. 5 axle, pulled the little adjuster plugs and found a pasty mess of brake dust, crud and axle grease. So pulled the hub and went hunting new seals (# on old Seal 40015029) figured at worst a crossover... found them nowhere except



Of course dodge dealer... . suppose to be in tomorrow...



Read up in the service manual on the re-install... appears pretty straight forward... ...



Anything I should be wary of?



Is this a common problem, leaking seals on these axles... . ?

 

[jelag]

I do a couple of things... . I pack the bearings with grease before assembly to allow for lubrication before the oil reaches the bearing... . I've found the seals locally other than the dodge dealer at an industrial supplier that has CR or Federal Mogal...



We coat both the fit of the seal to the hub with a light film of grease to aid in the seal installation and coat the inner lip of the seal for prelube before installing the hub back on the axle... .



We than check the fluid level in the rear end... and understand that any brake shoe that has been oil soaked can't be cleaned. . and it will grab later upon use as it heats up... . so expect that wheel to grab in a panic stop and the ABS to function... . and when that happens your stopping distance will increase by at least 15%... ... I assume you don't intend to change 1/2 of an axle set of brake shoes... .



Hope this helps... .

 

[JohnsonG]

Thanks for the tips, the pads are good and didn't get oiled at all, just the e-brake shoes... I picked up an new set... . as both sides are leaking... I plan to do the rear axle fluid as well... so I got the chrysler sealer. . strange that it dosen't use a cover seal...



Also what do you put on your axle shaft to hub bolts?



I've heard people have had problems with them coming out...



Thanks again

 

[jelag]

We use a hydraulic thread sealant that allows us to keep the oil from tracking down the thread and out..... as well as hold the bolts... . I don't remember the size off hand but we follow standard torque standards for that diameter of fastener... ... We've not had a problem with them coming loose when torqued... .



Jim

 

[JohnsonG]

Thanks Jim



Got the seals this morning.



I'll give them a good torqueing to the books specs of 95 Lbs Ft. using thread sealer.



greg

 

[JayWm]

I do a couple of things... . I pack the bearings with grease before assembly to allow for lubrication before the oil reaches the bearing... .

When we replace axle seals on a full floater we jack up rear end so the opposite side of where we worked is higher and let the truck sit to help insure oil gets down the axle tube to the serviced bearing side.



Jay

 

[JohnsonG]

Finished up the seal change. those seals go on tight, I lubed them well, but they are a tight fit going back on the axle housing... torqued spanner nut to 22 lbs feet as called for in the book...



Chased the axle shaft and hub holes then put them in with thread sealer. . 95ft lbs. .



Changed the axle grease, pulled cover, was pretty clean, just light haze on the inside of the cover. Like the cover gasket, nice not to have to scrape the hell out of it. had just a little gray stuff wipe off the drain plug magnet, pretty normal looking...



used Amsoil Severe Gear SAE 75w-90 synthetic extreme lub. . took 4 quarts... spun the wheel over manually for a while, then fired it up and ran them in low a while... .



The trac-rite looks pretty strong,



E-brake adjustmment wasnt to bad, strange that the star wheels don't have click tabs or a means of locking the adjustment in place...



Thanks for the input folks



have a good Turkey day

G

 

[Kday]

Help!

I'm doing the seal replacement but can't remove the hub ( brakes removed won't slide off) any ideas, I'm going back to pull on em again, thanks.

 

[Kday]

Got it off with a puller.

 

[rbattelle]

Do you really repack these bearings with grease on reinstallation? Won't that foul the axle oil?

I ask out of genuine ignorance.

I am in the process of replacing my seal for the exact same reason as the OP.

-Ryan

 

[Killer223]

no the grease won't hurt a thing, you don't have to pack them, but you can if you want.
they are lubed with axle oil.

 

[rbattelle]

Did you guys use a gasket between the axle and hub? Mine had nothing from the factory, and I am wondering if it will reseal wihout gasket or sealant.

Ryan

 

[rbattelle]

Did you guys use a gasket between the axle and hub? Mine had nothing from the factory, and I am wondering if it will reseal wihout gasket or sealant.

Ryan

Nevermind, there was a gasket. Looks to be 1/32".

 

[cerberusiam]

Do you really repack these bearings with grease on reinstallation? Won't that foul the axle oil?

Yes, and no. They don't oil very much, definitely not like the Danas. Without the grease towing will cause them to fail.

 

[Bob4x4]

The grease is for pre lubing after assy. to ensure they get lube before they are damaged from running dry.If you wanted to play the jack up one side(high enough for long enough)that would make the greasing unnecessary.IMHO the greasing is faster with out any risk-time is money