Many thanks, Pop. I guess I just need to fiddle with it a little more!

 

My hub nut acted as it was supposed to too. Before I started the job, I got a spare because I've heard they sometimes fall apart when removed. Both sides stayed together and installed as expected.

I'm not advocating this but I reused my rear seals. Just cleaned the dirt out of the seal grooves, lightly oiled them and re-buttoned it back up. 2K later, no oil visible on the backing plate yet. Truck has 160K on it and the seals were likely the original.

 

The manual recommends putting an oz. of axle lube in the hub before installation.

 

Should there be any space between the inner seal and the bearings? I have about a quarter inch.

 

Look at the spindle. That'll tell you how much space is between where the inner bearing rides and the seal sits. That measurement sounds correct. The seal isn't up against the inner bearing.

 

Thanks. Trying to weed out what may be wrong. I've tried three different seals and I cannot get the thing to stop leaking. First two were my fault. I torqued the hell out of it and probably damaged the seal. This time I was careful to do it by the book, but I still have leakage. I'm about to give up.

 

What year is your truck? Dually or single wheel?

 

99 SWD. I've tried the one piece seal, two piece scotseal. Nothing is working.

 

Make that single rear wheel.

 

Are you getting the right seal? The new seal should bottom out in the hub. How tight does it fit over the seal surface? Try that with the old one. Is the seal going in straight when you drive it in? How are you driving it in?

 

Do you have a groove worn in the spindle where the seal rides?

 

I had a similar issue, and there was a wear plate left from the old seal on the spindle.

This is the wear plate I didn't see:


This is the wear plate removed:


I had torqued three times and couldn't get the hub to seat all the way back. Finally clicked on me what it was.

 

Hmmm, I'll take a look tomorrow. That is a possibility. No groove in the spindle. I've torqued the little key off the ratcheting nut twice trying to get it to seat.

 

I should mention that at proper torque, the hub was very stiff. I think that's what made me think something wasn't right. When I looked closer, I could see a little space behind the hub.

 

I noticed the same thing. Thanks.