I just bought my FIRST Ford product. Its a 1977 Bronco with an '89 5.0 from a Mustang. While on the way home I smelled gear lube.....hmmm sure enough, it is leaking past the axle seal on the passenger side. The rear axle is a Ford 9 inch. I have never worked on a 9 inch rearend (all my other toys were CHEVROLET, '81 one ton with 44" Monster Mudders) From what I can gather there is a seal on the Axle behind the wheel bearings? (Yes or No?) Before I tear into the axle tell me this: should I just go out and buy new bearings and seals for both sides and change it all at once? Or just change the one seal and try to re-use the old bearing (assuning that it looks ok). Are there any special "tricks" to getting the seals out and changed in short order? Thanks for any help on the subject,

Andy

 

On the older Ford 9", yes the seal is behind the bearing. It isn't that hard to "tear in to." You just take off the wheel, unbolt the brake line, and unbolt the brake plate facia (leave the brakes mounted and all together to save time unless you're gonna put new brakes on).

You don't have to replace both sides. And if the bearing is still good, I'd just replace the seal, otherwise you'll have to remove the bearing and have another one pressed on. Check your axle for wear or grooves, and obviously check the bearing.

The seal butts against a seat. Just carefully pry the old one out, and press in the new one with a tool that doesn't damage the new seal. I had to replace a bearing, so I used the old retainer ring and a rubber mallet to seat the seal. I think there is a special tool for this, but I have not used it before.

There is also a little "O-ring" made of rubber and wire mesh which fits around the seal to keep it tight on the axle. This is Ford's exercise in torture. Use some lithium grease to keep that thing on the seal while you seat the axle. If it comes off, you will lose your mind trying to get it back on without taking off the seal again, which ruins it.

You will also probably have to pound the axle back in a small bit. Be sure the splines are seated. If you don't mark the position of the axle, you will have to rotate spleens until the axle slides into position, which will be on the spline where it moves in the farthest. Then you will have to "gently persuade" the axle back in. PLEASE BE GENTLE.

Oh, and don't forget to use the hole in the axle hub to loosen your brake plate facia bolts. That hole is a darn good idea!

 

Thanks for the Info, I am going to give it a try this weekend,
Thanks again,

Andy

 

If your brake line has an S shape behind the axle, undo the tab holding the line by lifting the tab up a bit. Then take the backing plate and hold it slightly above the axle with wire and you do not have to remove the brake line.

When removing the seal with anything other than a seal remover, if you pry then do it at the top. I just take a light duty air hammer and give it a quick shot at the top. I clean the inside lip and then smear a very thin coat of black RTV all around the lip/seal area before I put the new seal in.

I coat the rubber part of the seal with oil before trying to put the axle shaft back in.

 

Thank you both for the info...I'll let you know how it goes
Andy

 

When i ripped the seal on my 9" i was told by my local machine shop that you HAVE to replace the bearing and retainer as pressing them off (which ruins the bearing) is the only way to get the seal off. Did i get hosed by my "trusted" machine shop?

 

Good Question! I guess that I am a little confused. Do you have to remove the bearing to replace the seal? I dont have a way to press the bearing off so am I getting in over my head already?

Andy

 

Not necessarily. On the newer 9", or in some of the heavy duty 250's, the seal is an integral part of the bearing, and it fits on the FRONT side of the bearing, in which case you would have to replace both seal and bearing. If you are talking about the '93 F150XL in your sig, then you probably have the newer bearing, and were probably not hosed.

So pipefitter, you'll know when you take the axle apart what bearing assembly you have. I'm still betting you have the older style bearing with the seal behind the bearing based on the age of your vehicle.

 

You're a pipefitter huh?So am I,23yrs.Been doing chill water systems for the last 16 yrs.

 

the 9" did not come stock on this truck, it was swapped out from a '79 bronco.

 

well as far as i know they all had the early(small bearing , 28 spline??) ford 9 inch with a d20 up front
the axle is the same as the old falcon cause they use 'em in there cars

 

Uh.. were you talking to me or FordPerf300? My Bronco has the large bearing in the rear. (according to the WIld horse web site). I havent gotten to tear into it yet, we are working on getting the shop insulated, winter is comming soon and I want to stay warm this year!! I'll let you'all know how it turns out. Thanks,

Andy

 

well knew the 9 ingh part thats why the?? in the(small bearing , 28 spline??) <<see quessing/question

 

Its still probably a tossup (this is to FordPerf300) with the bearing. In the mid to late 70's, they used both the 28 spline and 31 spline (I think its 31?) in the F series 2WD pickups. The later into the 70's was when the bearing/seal combination (with the seal on the front side of the bearing) became more common. Even in the '74 F series, you have both bearing options available depending on 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton package. Because the 73-79 Broncos are usually mentioned in the same breath as the F series pickups, the bearing and rear end was probably just as random or inconsistant (this is a guess).

 

Ok, I did it. I went to the parts store and bought the seal for the rear axle. $1.35 for each! Hmm I might like this yet. I went home and pulled the wheel and drum off. I unbolted the axle flange from the housing and pulled it out. The old seal came out of the end of the housing when I pulled the axle out! Sweet so far. The seal is the innermost piece on the axleshaft. I simply removed the old one, installed the new seal in the end of the axle housing with a piece of muffler tube and a wooden block. I slid in the axle and filled the Housing with new 80-90W. Presto!! Nothing too bad, no worries here. No bearings to pull off so no big deal. Thanks for all the help, talk to you later!!

Andy