I'm frustrated right now trying to pull a leaking hub seal out of my Sterling 10.25 without trashing the bearing.

I have broken the hook on my slide hammer, and welded it up and broken it again.
Bent a 3' Matco prybar.
Torched all the rubber lip off the seal.

It doesn't seem I can punch it out from the other side with the bearing in place.
I think it's too solid to collapse it in on itself.

Does anyone here have an easy out for me?
It's time for dinner and a cocktail...

Any and all ideas are welcome.
Thanks!

 

Did this job on my buddy's '97 250 HD a couple years ago, and it went pretty easy IIRC.

Just throwing it out there...any chance you could carefully cut a section of the seal out with a Dremel? I think a cutoff wheel would be too big unless it was REALLY worn down.

Sorry for the dearth of ideas...good luck!
Pat

 

Jim, I've usually been able to knock them out using a brass drift and a BFH. They are a pain to do. BTW, what seal are you using? My source for real good seals went out of business a number of years ago.

 

Bill, The inner race and bearing won't allow me to use a punch from the other side.

I REALLY took a rosebud torch to the hub and worked it out with the 3' prybar.
That smoking hot seal shot out and hit the 14' ceiling then bounced around.
Stupidly, I grabbed it...

Couldn't find a torque spec for the Sterling 10.25" full floater so I just cranked it down tight and backed off 1/4 turn.
Still seemed tight, but I assume this was the new seal. (I did pre-lube it with a bit of 90w)
Federal-Mogul brand was in stock locally so that's what I used.

I just finished and am ready for a test drive.
Hope this goes well.

 

Jim, from TSB 91-6-7:

"Caution: The specified torquing and backing of the hub nut is critical in order to perform the repair correctly."

"Note: Always turn the hub while tightening the hub nut. Once the specified torque 55-65 Lb.Ft., (75-88 N-m) is achieved, ratcheting back on the hub nut varies depending on whether the hub bearings are new or used. Back off 5 clicks for new bearing and 8 clicks for used bearings."

TSB 94-19-24 addresses a seal modification that was incorporated in the 94 model year and is serviced in a kit F4TZ-1177-C

 

Bill,
Thanks for that great information!
I'll go back and make sure it's correct.
Easy enough, I don't even have to pull the wheel, just the axle to get at the nut.