Can someone tell me which axle this is in the pic? The axle code on the VIN Tag is H2 and the rear axle GVWR is 3218. It has an oil seal about 2 inches inside the axle tube. I don't see any seal on the outside of the bearing. Are these bearings a sealed/prelubed bearing? Would these be ball bearing or tapered bearings? If I just replace the seal inside the axle tube, would that stop a leak or is there something I am missing here. As far as I know this is exactly as it came from the factory. VIN is F10YRQxxxx with 133 inch wheelbaseHere goes with my first attempt to link a pic.....

http://www.orionscitech.com/CarRestorationPics.html

 

Ford 9 inch 31 spline 3.50 limited slip. The axle bearing is pressed on and need pressing off and then back on to be replaced. The rear end oil should keep it lubed. I may be wrong but some one will correct me if i am.

 

Not sure about how it gets lube.. The seal is between the bearing and the differential so no lube can get through to it... I see that Napa Online lists a bearing that looks the same and it says it is sealed.. So, guessing it is a sealed and pre-lubed bearing so it doesn't need any diff lube getting to it...

 

I just pulled my axels on my 78 with the same axel code and axel and the diff. fluid ran out off the low side that why i assumed it was lubed that way.

 

This is the early style bearing. It is a sealed ball bearing and does not use the gear oil in the axle housing for lube. As you said, the seal is pressed in the axle tube first, inboard of the bearing. This is the only seal.
The later style tapered bearing (often reffered to as "set 20" bearings) do use diff. oil for lubrication and the seal goes outboard of the bearing.

 

When was the tapered bearing started to be used? Thanks for clearing that up also.

 

Here is a picture of the later set 20 bearing

 

that clearifys a ton.

 

I'll have to check but I believe it was either '74 or '75 as a running, mid-year change.

The first reference in the Ford parts catalog to the tapered bearing is '74.

 

I know my 75 has the tapered bearings. My 73 tbird has the sealed ones. Just wanted to add that LFDavidson should make sure that the vent tube is clear on the axle. That makes the seals leak sometimes with the built up pressure. Although the age of the seals might do it too.

 

Text, Section 11, Page 17: Some 1974/79's 9's have the tapered roller bearing, some do not, as it depended on the application.

D4AZ-1225-A .. Tapered Roller Axle Bearing/Seal combination / BIN: U-399-A

D4AZ-1177-A .. Seal only.
--------------------------
D8AZ-1225-C (replaced D8AZ-1225-B, C9AZ-1225-A & C1SZ-1225-A) .. Axle Ball Bearing-Large / BIN: F-208-HL

EOTZ-1S177-CA (replaced C9AZ-1177-A & B7A-1177-A) .. Axle Seal.

BIN: Bearing Industry Number, marked on the parts, and are what autoparts stores go by.

 

Thanks for clearing in up numbers.

 

Thanks all for the help and info... I did check the axle vent first thing... It was open but restricted so I pulled it off and cleaned it out.. Putting on a new hose since everything is factory original and the old hose is brittle...

Just one more question. When I pulled the axle out, I was able to just grab it and pull without having to use a puller on it.. It came out pretty easy.. Is that normal or should it have somewhat of a pressed in feeling to it?

Thanks again...

 

Sometimes you get lucky when you go to pull them and they slide out without problem but 9 times out of ten. It don't happen that way.

 

Pulling out by hand isn't a problem.