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Any advice on rear axle bearings/seals? 78 bronco factory 31 spline 9” rear.
Timken set 20 all pressed on (same part numbers were what was installed previous).
Measuring the clearance in the axle tube to the bearing “stop” the axles are in all the way. Between 1/8 and 1/4 of the outer bearing “assembly” outside the seal still is outside the tube...no where near flush, however when I pulled the axle the old axle retention plate and bearings were flush..
So progressing forward
Do I slowly torque the retention plate on which actually will “crush the seal inward over the bearing? ( I read something along this line on Curries website)
I bought strange engineering retention plates as the old stamped ones I felt had seen better days. Old big ford 9” the proper ones..
They have the fancy aluminum plates which have a machined groove in them that fits around the bearing..is that the way to do it?
Could the bearings be pressed on too far?
I know I’m not the first and have read but nothing really addresses what I’m seeing(or maybe it’s obvious to everyone and I’m missing it)
I know it’s difficult but a pic of how much is outside the tube
What retainer plates did you get? Do you have a link to them?
Most aftermarket retainer plates allow you to put them on after the bearings are installed, so that you don't have to press them on with them.
Are yours open on the sides like those? Or are they a full circle?
As for pressing on the bearings, no you can't press them on too far.
I found it much easier to press the bearing and the bearing retainer on separately. Pressing both on at the same time just took more force than my 20 ton press could handle.
My retainer plates are similar to yours in design.
maybe I’m wrong in reassembly. Looking at your pic are your retainers attached? From the axle housing working out to the wheel should it be 1.the backing plate (for brakes) first then
2. The retainer plates?
maybe I forgot how I took it apart and the seal portion of the bearing is protruding from the housing for backing plate clearance? In your experience is that how it goes back together?
The backing plate isn't involved with the axle install/removal unless you take it off.
With the retainer plate like you have pictured, the slot in the side allows you to install them and remove them from the axle without removing the bearings.
So, you can assemble your axle, press the bearings on, etc, and then put the retainer plate on after it's all done.
It's hard to see in this pic, but this is after it's all installed and the retainer plate is in place and bolted down.
Not sure if that answered your question, let me know if not.
The backing plate isn't involved with the axle install/removal unless you take it off.
With the retainer plate like you have pictured, the slot in the side allows you to install them and remove them from the axle without removing the bearings.
So, you can assemble your axle, press the bearings on, etc, and then put the retainer plate on after it's all done.
It's hard to see in this pic, but this is after it's all installed and the retainer plate is in place and bolted down.
Not sure if that answered your question, let me know if not.
got it! It was truly my mistake. Reading through other threads it appears most don’t remove the backing plate and brakes. I had pulled mine apart a while ago and forgot the sequence. I was trying to attach the axle retention plate before the backing plate...besides the backing plate not being able to go on(didn’t get that far) that’s why the bearing seemed to protrude too much...I was missing the backing plate which takes up that distance. Got it together last night.
thanks for the help and great pics!
just for kicks here’s the bronco...
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