i have 96 f-250 power stroke and on the rar end i have lost a wheel seal on the left side so i went to ford and got new one and it went out so i checked the vent tube and it was clear since then i have lost 2 ford seals and one from napa and another one from a different store im having no luck and i could some help if any body knows what the problem is
terry

 

sounds like the axle coule be damaged or your housing is bent. how did the axle look where it went through the seal?

 

Terry......did you remember to lubricate the seal surface with grease before you installed it?

 

it was good and yes i did put grease on it

 

It may be possible that your bearings are worn. I have not been in to a floating axle but on a light duty axle if the bearing wears, the axle shaft will move up in the axle housing and it will wear out the seal pretty quickly, while leaving a gap at the bottom. I would check for slack in the bearings, a true axle, and wear patterns on the axle.

 

You also HAVE to make sure you remove both parts of the seal during removal. once they start to leak when you pull them off one piece will stay on the hub, and the other will stick to the axle housing, and one can easily be missed, when reassembled they will not seal.

I have had a set of napa's on my truck for 40K and no problems.

Diesel Rod

 

Wow Terry. Four seals.....all fail. When you checked the vent hose, did you check the fitting that it connects to on the axle? I checked mine last week, and found it plugged with rust....caused a pinion seal to leak.
It sounds like you know your way around seals.....so I'm going to assume they were installed correctly, and eliminate it from the possibilities.
What we have left is what has been posted already:
1. A groove worn into the axle, and the seal can't cover it. It might not be
obvious to the eye.....may need to be checked with a set of calipers.
2. The axle may be bent.
3. The axle tube itself is bent.
4. There is something on the axle in the seal area (a nick,crack etc.) that won't let the seal do it's job.
This one isn't going to be an easy one to find. You may want to find a reputable differential shop. The one that's busiest is the best, you can almost depend on it.
I would take that fitting off and see if it's plugged before looking for a shop. That may be all it is.
Take care. And let us know what you find out.

 

thanks guys i have a lot to do to find this problem oh well thats what weekends or for and some for having fun if you guys hear of anything else let me know

 

I also recall hearing something that when you add oil to the rear end your supposed to lower one side of the axle to the ground, so the oil will fill the lower tube, then lower the other side and add more oil so that tube fills, then set it level and recheck oil. something about the axle tubes take awhile to fill with oil, and if you just fill the pinion houseing and drive off the seals will burn out because of lack of oil. If you didnt do this its worth a shot. when I did mine I just drove around the yard slow for awhile and then rechecked the oil, 40K no problems.