Just bought a 96 F350 and the owner told me that the axle seal was leaking. Just wondering what the cost of this repair might be.. Is it something a reasonable home mechanic can do myself? Will they tell me my axle is pitted or grooved and need a new axle (75k mi on the truck)? Is this common?

Thx,
Brian

 

Rear axle, or front axle?
What size is the axle (if rear)? - check door tag

I JUST did this on my 1994 F350 4X4 with full floating REAR axles.
(IF the axle is full floating, you will NOT even have to go near the rear diff or open the pumpkin - contrary to popular belief). (read that as chevy guys offering advice - as was my case).


REAR -
If it is a full floating rear axle seal that needs replacing, it is certainly possible for a person to change it easily themselves, IF they have some experience with tools.

Take the wheel off, pull the brake drum, remove the brakes (or unbolt the backing plate completely), and take a look at things. Might be a good time to replace the brake shoes, since your here anyway.... do both sides if you want to do the brakes.

Undo the bolts holding the floating axle to the shaft. Once that is off, pull the axle out of the tube. From there, the seals (may as well replace the 2) can be addressed. In CDN cash, the seals are about $75 bucks for both (roughly). Check the bearings out as well, since they will be in your hand anyways. Repack or replace if they are scored since you got them in your hand. If you replace the barings, replace the races as well....

If I forgot any steps, please feel free to correct.
This is for a 1994 F350, yours is probably the same.

Front - I have done this recently too, but other things are on my mind...
If it is the front, let us know.

Chad

 

Sorry, it is a front axle seal.. I just was told that it would be $300 or so for the seal but that if my axle was pitted or scored that would another $300 for a new axle.. Hoping to not spend as much as that..

 

Not sure what they mean by axle is pitted or scored....
If the seal is gone, then road salt, water, whatever can get into the axle tube itself and possible rust the axle portion.

The front axle seals are doable by yourself as well.
The 4X4 portion might make it more difficult.
Buy a good book on repairs for your truck, and check out the procedure. You might surprise yourself with what you can do.

The seals I think cost me like no more then 35 CDN for the front.
But once you get to that point, your going to find more stuff that needs replacing too... Be warned (u-joints, possible ball joints, steering bushings, front brakes, bearings, etc...)

 

To do the front axle seals on the Dana 60 axle in the F350, the differential needs to come out to get to the seals. They are inboard, at the differential housing, rather than outboard, at the yokes. The $300 parts and labor charge isn't too far off base.

The rear axle is a 10.25" full-float.

If that shop has access to Dana 60 High Pinion front axles for 300 bucks, buy a few of them re-sell them here to guys wanting to swap a 60 into their F250's!