Soon after changing the gear oil in my rear diff. I noticed the left wheel seal is now leaking. I haven't taken it apart yet but I've been wondering if I should get a sleeve for the seal surface. Are these hard to install? Does anyone know which one I should get and from where?

Is it common for a gear oil change to cause the seal to start leaking? Note: I neglected to check the vent so it could be plugged. If so would clearing the vent plug stop the seal from leaking?

Edwin

 

IIRC, you mentioned that you thought that the diff was low when you drained it.


YES, if the vent is clogged (unscrew the nipple at the tube, and remove to inspect), it will cause a gear oil leak almost immediately.

 

Yes. I only got about 1/2 gallon of oil out. According to the FSM it's supposed to hold 7 pints. I am thinking if it was low that merely getting oil out to the bearings would cause it to leak.

So I guess I'll have to check it out this weekend.

Any thoughts on the sleeve for the seal surface?

Edwin

 

Personally, I've never had to use one. Bought new seal, and I was done.

Don't waste your $$ unless you are sure you need it. Buy a new axle seal instead.

I like fel pro, myself, as they don't require sealant on them. I always have a dozen or so in stock

 

It's not the axle shaft that's leaking. The oil is coming from the inside of the brake area and dripping out the drum.

 

You shouldn't need the sleeve unless the surface is grooved so bad it won't clean up with emery cloth

 

Yes, I'm aware of that. My point was not to go buy something you don't even know if you need it or not, and that a better investment would be to buy a bunch of the fel pro gaskets for the axle. They are great to have on hand, and you don't have to ever use the fipg goop

None of the trucks I've ever worked on needed a sleeve repair. The h u b just cleaned up with polishing cloth

 

If it is just a plugged vent, chances are the seal is fine and it will quit leaking when you clear the vet.

 

That is where I would start, but I like cheap, easy things that actually fix problems.
I had a pinion leak on the rear axle of Poncho last week after a long drive on one of then first warm days. I checked the tube and vent the next day and it was plugged.

 

Thanks, Edwin.

2 years and 95% clogged. Hope my heart arteries aren't following suit.

 

A very good reason to not cook with gear oil. My wife uses coconut oil only.

The seals on both wheels were replaced less than 2 years ago. Hopefully it's just a plugged vent. I didn't realize they could get clogged so quickly!

I have to wait until the weekend to do anything that involves me crawling under the truck. I want my wife here to call 911 if anything bad should happen. In my younger days I had a car slide sideways on a bumper jack and nearly pinned me against a wall. Another time I had my hand caught between the top of a bumper jack and the car body when it slid forward. Now I don't take chances with bumper jacks any more. In fact I don't even own one.

Edwin

 

In looking at other threads there was mention of a wheel seal that is 2 pieces that has the sealing surface built in. The part that touches the old seal surface doesn't rotate.

Does anyone have the part number and where they can be bought?

I'll have to take the left side apart anyway so might as well upgrade the seal. I need to replace the right side P-brake cable so I can do that side also. I would have done it last time but I was just tired and needed to get it back together. There is never enough time to do the job right but always enough time to do it over.

Edwin

 

"2 Piece" Unitized Seal National 370150a

RockAuto Information Page

EDIT: Sorry, this is for the Single Rear Wheel applications . . . I had a moment.

 

A long time back, my old 91.5 started leaking there. Replaced the seal and installed a sleeve a couple times. It turned out to be a cracked hub at the bearing race.

 

Thanks but that seal doesn't fit the Dually axle which has a bigger diameter seal AFAIK.

Edwin