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Semi floating axles are lubed with gear oil, since the bearings are located inside the axle tube.
Full floating axles need grease, since the bearings are outside of the axle tube, in their own sealed environment.
Yeah, like I said, his paperwork said "semi-floating" so he may have just went off the procedure for that instead of knowing the difference.
According to you all here this are indeed full floating.
Odd thing is, he said the bearings he pulled out weren't greased either though. Had a picture of all the parts he pulled and yeah, looked pretty dry to me.
Yeah, like I said, his paperwork said "semi-floating" so he may have just went off the procedure for that instead of knowing the difference.
According to you all here this are indeed full floating.
Odd thing is, he said the bearings he pulled out weren't greased either though. Had a picture of all the parts he pulled and yeah, looked pretty dry to me.
I may need to correct myself on that. There is no seal that prevent gear oil from the differential from migrating down the axle shaft, and dribbling inside the hubs. It just seems odd since there's no way for the gear oil to get back into axle housing. I think I need to pull the axle shaft on my truck and see if gear oil pours out.
According to this drawing, the spindle can be unbolted and replaced if needed.
The spindle cannot be unbolted
That photo shows how the backing plate bolts up (to a welded flange)
Yes, the gear oil travels down the axle and out into the hub, to lube the rear wheel bearings
I usually grease them when assembling, just in case the oil takes a while to get out there
When completely filled up (on flat level ground) the rear axle has both hubs and wheel bearings soaked by about 1/8 inch
Wait.. what axle is this? The 10.25? OP, my apologies as well. I was thinking something different that had sealed hubs. I’m not sure what I was thinking of…
The FSM does call for pre greasing/packing them. It also calls for filling the hub 1oz with engine oil. That said, I always thought the ff was oiled through the axle tube as well. There is an oil seal (oring) on the axle shaft, and on the rear of the hub. I have had them leak in the past as well, both seals.
I did mine several yrs ago, and packed them with grease. Haven’t touched them since.
If you’re just pulling the axle shaft, (which I’ve done on my ‘96) gear oil will come out. Best to Jack up one side at a time so oil cannot run down the axle tube and spill out.
Was the differential low on fluid by chance? Anything coming out when this happened? Those pics show it dry as a bone.
Wait.. what axle is this? The 10.25? OP, my apologies as well. I was thinking something different that had sealed hubs. I’m not sure what I was thinking of…
The FSM does call for pre greasing/packing them. It also calls for filling the hub 1oz with engine oil. That said, I always thought the ff was oiled through the axle tube as well. There is an oil seal (oring) on the axle shaft, and on the rear of the hub. I have had them leak in the past as well, both seals.
I did mine several yrs ago, and packed them with grease. Haven’t touched them since.
If you’re just pulling the axle shaft, (which I’ve done on my ‘96) gear oil will come out. Best to Jack up one side at a time so oil cannot run down the axle tube and spill out.
Was the differential low on fluid by chance? Anything coming out when this happened? Those pics show it dry as a bone.
1996 FSM.
No worries! Confusion all around! Haha.
Yes this is/was a 10.25.
I would've put at least a little grease in the bearings either way, if I were doing it.
Not sure of the diff oil. Mechanic bought gear oil but don't know if he drained/refilled the diff. Not sure about that. There was definitely no oil leaking when this happened though. I did have ot slightly jacked up from that side though.
Yes, it does. I know I did, and have in the past. Even if they are oil fed, I don’t see why not to be honest - as long as the grease is oil soluable. I’ve been using Lucas Xtra Duty grease for a long time on wheel bearings. Maybe this fall, I’ll pull the hubs off mine and have a look. Last time I did it on the ‘96 250, I really don’t remember why.. I think I was replacing the rear hub seals for a leak.
Just looked at your pics again, unless that got so hot to burn off all the oil, which you would’ve had smoke coming from the wheel at that point, I’m not so sure you were getting anything in there.. might be worth pulling the diff cover to have a look as well, drain it and see what shape the oil is in, and how much is in there.
I was just searching, lots of threads here and other forums, some say not to worry about greasing, some say grease.. So, now I’m second guessing it myself. I default to the FSM, ymmv I suppose.
wow- so the FSM says to grease them, motor oil the hub, and then diff oil circulates back out through the axle tube?
that's why my daddy never bought fords- 'Son,' he said, 'Don't ever mix your fluids.'
It DOES seem like this is asking for trouble, contaminating the diff lube with potentially non- compatible grease and oil-
because let's face it, I use whatever grease I'm fond of this week, and have no idea what base or what additives it has in it.
