Inside both front wheels, there is a "loose gasket" or seal or something...

Here are pics.





They are just loose, hanging there

As far as I know, the 4wd seemed to be working fine.

(So why was I under there looking at it?)

Well...I have a bit of vibration that I thought might be a front left wheel bearing. I just replaced both universals on the rear drive shaft that were REALLY creating vibration and had some loose bolts that I decided to crawl underneath and check.

They were fine, but these gaskets were all hang-y and stuff, so took a look and then the pics above.

What are those and how bad is it?

I had planned on servicing the front hubs shortly, just because I haven't yet and someone was kind enough to do a good writeup for us

Thanks for looking!

 

They are seals to keep water and sand/mud out of the driveshaft housing, I wouldnt worry to muck if you dont go thry mud often.

 

Beat me to it.

 

Boy, that was quick! Thanks, guys!

Okay, back to original plan of using a hub zerk (a la Andy) to grease and hope the noise is just a complaint, LOL.

I was looking at the prices and procedures for pulling that. Does NOT look like fun

Not mud very often, only if it's in the way. Puddles of water, all the time

Maybe that is more of a reason the grease job will help?

 

Dust seal..
I just did both sides with greasable u joints ..
Took. Me about 5 hours per side..
I cleaning and prepping old parts eat up a lot of time.
My was so bad on 1 side the truck was darting all over the road.

Nice and smooth again..

Kyle

 

i remove them to let anything in the tubes drain out. there is an inner seal to keep the differential clean and dry.

 

Before the superdutys Ford never had a seal there on any of their 4x4s. It's not a big deal if they are shot or not.

 

If you do end up wanting to replace it I believe that you will need either 1C2Z4676AA or E7UZ4676A depending on the rear end.

 

I don't understand ? Rear end ?
You are referring pinion seals
why would he need them ?

Kyle

 

Thanks for all the info

I feel much less concerned now that ya'll are familiar and unconcerned with that seal.

Fords didn't used to have those seals? I don't remember ever seeing them, but our trucks from the 70's and 80's were built like chunks of iron. If something on the wheels was broken, it usually involved a tractor and reattaching the wheel, LOL

I really appreciate all the help!

 

Is working on your truck your full time job?

 

Sometimes is sure feels like it

I did drive it 6 months last year, only changing oil. Guess this is my punishment, LOL

 

If I am looking at the picture correctly you are pointing to the back side of the wheel hub assembly area. The seal there protects the hub unit and also allows a vacuum to be formed for the ESOF system.

On the inboard side of the u joint is another seal which very often deteriorates like the one in your picture and is a poor excuse of a dust seal. Again, as mentioned earlier it just keeps dust out of the axle tube, with there being actual differential seals that keep the diff fluid contained.

I have the seal tool for seating that outer seal if you want to use it. We are honeymooning through this weekend sometime, but I'll be hollering at ya once we get home and mostly moved into the house.

Don't let the front end scare you either, pretty simple, I've been in and out of them at least half a dozen times.

 

Thanks! Have fun on your honeymoon! Congratulations!!!

 

when he said rear end, he meant which axle, either dana 50 or dana 60