Differential Bearings and seals.

[Dick Koch]

Gonna use the differential that came out of my parts car in the convertible. Am replacing all, I said all, of the bearing and seals. My question is about the bearings and seals on the ends of the axles. The parts book shows a bearing and two seals on each side. but the axle I have only had an inner seal. A pretty savy parts guy at auto zone says his info only shows one seal. Can anyone help me out.
Dick.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Dick, check out my thread on my restoration, I just did this late last year when I had a leaky rear passenger seal. I pulled both axle shafts and swapped out the 8 3/4 pumkin for a taller gear ratio to handle that bad boy 413 I put in. viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1317&start=60

Does take a gentle touch to drive in the two axle seals (one on each side) Rick Clapham loaned me a seal driver that did the trick but a large socket on an extention works too! I also repacked the bearings (both sides) and mucked out the axle banjo part of the old fluid with paper towels to go with the new axle fluid I put in. Of course a new gasket for the 8 3/4 chuck too!

I also replaced both rear brake cylinders at the time. Actually that is why I tore into the axle anyhow and dicovered the leaky seal.

Hope you have an axle puller for those tapered axles....


John Q.

[Dick Koch]

John - So I take it you only had one seal on each side (inner), no outer seal, then you packed the bearings put on the shims (I had two on each side) then the backing plate. One axle shaft came right out by yanking on it, the other I went to Advance Aurto Parts and temporarly bought thier axle puller master set, they lend it out but charge you full price $147.00 but give you full credit when you bring it back. I have my own hub puller for the drums. I have a seal driver set and use it all the time. Anywho why does the parts book show two seals, and inner and an outer. My next thing is to clean the banjo and then bring it to my local Mopar Mechanic to change out all the bearings in the differential, to many adjustment I could screw up. I will check out your thread.
Dick.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Dick, I should have known you had all the tools already! You ahve a well equipped gargae!

Now you got me wondering.... I will have to check my recipts agoain on what I bought. The inner seal is about 3 to 4 inchs inboard of the bearings till it gets to a small step flange. Now I have to review my own pictures and procedures on an outer seal near the bearings.

I hate getting old! I have to Map Quest my own house at night to get home!!!


John Q.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Yep! inner seal in the axle is one and the second seal is in the "Bear cub" plate that holds the brake shoes. That one is a actually outside the axle and covers the bearings but installed on the Brake plate and that is bolted onto the axle flange. (page32 in the57- 58 main manual.)


I sit corrected! One in and one out of the axle.

John Q.

[Dick Koch]

Question answered, I looked at you thread and you explaned that the outer seal is installed in the backing plate and I wrote down the number.
Now to find the backing plates they are around here somewhere.
Thanks
Dick

[big m]

Here are some photos I took when I was replacing seals in my '58 Dodge Sierra. For pulling axles, I simply welded two axle nuts together, and used a slide hammer adaptor from Snap-on.
---John

[Dick Koch]

Thanks John F. - That puller is just like the Master Axle Puller Set I got on loan from Advance Auto, saved a lot of grief. Nice pictures will really be helpful.
Dick.

[big m]

You are more than welcome, Dick!

---John