Leaking seal?

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Dec 23, 2012 | 10:31 PM

#31

mueckster

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From: Damon (South East Texas)

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmyboy76

Got my new/spare seal on the shelf as well, Roland. Mt p/s blew out during summer. Jeff, i learmed after the fact, but if/when i have to do the d/s seal, i'm gonna fill the cavity with diff fluid then bolt up the axle OR park truck with p/s tires in the gutter overnight, for bearing cavity to fill with oil.

I wasnt too stoked in packing the bearings with grease just for it to contaminate the diff fluid?

Actually, my Ford manual recommends lubing the bearings with gear oil (not grease), then adding 1 oz of gear oil to the cavity in the hub before installing the outer bearing and nut. That's the way I did mine before I had the Ford manual. I work on OTR trucks and trailers, so I'm used to that way of doing it and using those types of seals.

Dec 24, 2012 | 06:43 AM

#32

jeffreyt

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From: Longview, TX

Hmm... Well I packed in a good high temp bearing grease in each bearing, then reinstalled. I then opened the plug in the pumpkin and forced half a bottle of 95-140 in (it was at the bottom of the plug, so the half bottle was extra). I figured it would make its way to the cavity. I'm not to keen on running those bearings with gear oil in place of grease. I guess as long as the friction is down, it's ok...

Anyway, after I got the wear plate off, everything bolted back up like a charm... Torqued ratchet nut, backed off 7 clicks. Installed axle and axle bolts to hand tight (using a dab of black rtv to help the old oring). Installed the rotor and caliper, installed the tire, let down the jack, torqued the tire then torqued the axle bolts. Did fine for the 20 minute drive home. Time will tell

Dec 25, 2012 | 04:29 PM

#33

JWC 3

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From: Tennessee

Old school , I always pack the bearings with grease . Then put some lube in the hub , Ck diff . Good to go ! The grease will dissolve in the lube and will be fine .

Dec 25, 2012 | 04:36 PM

#34

jeffreyt

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From: Longview, TX

I've got two questions now.

1: will fluid from the diff make its way to the bearings? If not i need to pull the axle and fill the cavity.

2: if the rear bearings can run safely with gear oil in place of grease, what about the front? It'd be a lot easier to pour gear oil in the ABS hole than it would be to pump grease in...

Dec 25, 2012 | 05:06 PM

#35

mueckster

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From: Damon (South East Texas)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffreyt

As long as the diff is filled to the proper level, it will flow thru the axle tube into the hub. After driving, it should have stabilized by now. You can always recheck the level. But if you overfilled it, you should be fine. The hub doesn't hold much, initially, but fills to height of the spindle once the oil from the diff has made it there after assembly. Some jack up the opposite side to allow it to fill the hub, the let it down and "level out" before checking the diff oil level and adjusting accordingly.
The capacity and design of the front hub doesn't allow much room for oil as a lubricant. IMHO, it would need more volume to allow for expansion and cooling.

Dec 25, 2012 | 05:13 PM

#36

JWC 3

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From: Tennessee

The axle bearings are designed to run in gear oil . Oil will reach the bearings over time .When you disturb them , they must have lube .When I am working on large trucks with full floating axles , I always pack the bearings . Then fill the well . The lube will find it's way .But! the bearings must have lube at the start also . I do a lot of work on farm trucks and OTR haulers . Packing them to start is what I was taught way back when .

Dec 26, 2012 | 03:54 PM

#37

crop harvester

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Joined: Jul 2011

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I always use lubriplate 105 assembly lube its liked whipped up moter oil it will wash out fairly quickly unlike #2 gun grease.also used it to lube warn locking hubs,and such where you dont want the sticky high film.