Axle and inner seal questions?
 

I'm rebuilding the front axle on my truck and need to know what axle (d50 or d60) I have? I'm 99% sure that the axle under my truck is a d50 but i want to be 100% sure lol. I'm buying the inner oil seal spreader tool and they sell a d50 model and a d60 model. So I need to be sure of what I have, as the tool is unbelievably expensive. I found the factory sticker on the passenger side axle tube and it reads D-271-C. Hopefully that means something.

Second question, which way does the oil seal install? I know, it sounds like a dumb question but ford updated the seal and it looks nothing like the old seal at all. Thanks for any help guys.Attachment 209508

Attachment 209509
Attachment 209510

Just total eyeballing it the third picture looks correct. The way it is facing would be wheel side. That seal does look totally different then the old one.

I'm thinking that the way it's sitting in the second picture would be facing the wheel. You can't tell it, but in the first pic if you look on the left side of the seal you can see a smaller black ring sticking out past the main "body" of the seal. That smaller ring is tapered kinda like it's supposed to help accept the inner axles as you slide them back through the axle tubes and into place. This is just my guess. I don't have a clue. Lol

I suggest you ID your axle better, seriously doubt its a Dana 50 unless some dang fool downgraded your entire front end!

Differential Identification | West Coast Differentials

Ford did update axle seal designs, but the question is, do those updates apply to your axle that you have in your 2000? I don't think they do. The part in the bag in your pictures applies to more recent axles of later model trucks.

Last week I changed both axle and knuckle seals in my 2000. I really wanted the updated design metal encapsulated (dust) seal that presses into the axle tube instead of onto the axle shaft. And I also wanted the updated design knuckle seal that has the sealing shield on the back. But sadly, those updated designs only applied to 2005 and up axles.

I'm assuming that you are replacing the inner oil seals, close to the differential itself, that keeps the gear oil in the pumpkin instead of allowing it to run out into the tubes. The basic part number of "3254" applies to both the inner axle oil seals (suffix -A, and -AA), as well as the outer axle knuckle seal (suffix -CB), so without clarification from you, it is hard to know for certain from your post exactly which seal you are trying to replace. So a word from you on that might help others help you more.

But I'm going to continue to assume that you are not talking about the knuckle seal, and are instead talking about the inner axle oil seal. The part number in your bag applies to the '11-'16 Super Duties that use a Dana 60. So not only is the part design for a newer model year, it is also for a different axle, since you are correct, in that you have a Dana 50 in your 2000 SRW F-350. The D-271-C suggests to me that your axle ratio is 3.73. Yes?

I'm thinking you might have the wrong part.

Yes I'm talking about replacing the inner oil seal on either side of the carrier bearing. I gave the parts guy the older parts #(2c3z-3254-aa) and it came back as discontinued and the part number that I have show in my original post is now the correct seal for all 99-16's. I'm at a loss.

Thanks for the link. Was able to confirm that I have a d50/229 through the BOM number on the front diff tag.

I called another dealer this morning and they confirmed that the part number I show EC3Z-3254-A is the correct and updated internal oil axle seal for all 2000-2016 ford super duty trucks. I told him that when i google the part number it shows its only for the 2008-2016 trucks. He said to "forget what google says, I can assure you this is the correct part for your application". I then laughed. So, that's where I am at as of now.

Thanks for the follow up, Fordcowboy. When I ordered parts for my axle, I referred to a set of Ford parts books, but being printed books, they are not updated, naturally. Since I didn't have to change my inner oil seals, I had no occasion to encounter the superseded number. I'm glad you probed for corroborative information. Now we all know we will need a very new seal number for the inner oil seal.

Can you confirm that have 3.73 gears? That is what I picked up from your D-217-C code. I want to make sure that I can read the code right without having the benefit of your Dana Bill of Material number.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...7c1c1a03a1.jpg
Yep 3.73 gears front and rear.

Excellent. D-271-D crossed to YC35-3002-JB (A Dana 50 for an SRW F-350 with 3.73 gears in 2001), so -C would be your 2000, and I see the YC35-JB engineering number confirmed on your axle's dog tag also. This indicates you have front wheel ABS sensors in your axle (some Ford axles of that vintage do not). The original service part number for your oil seals is indeed F81Z-3254-AA. Please post a photo of the tool you obtain to install the updated seal design you have, when you get the tool.


Colorado Horsemen... While 2002 and up F-350 4x4s all had Dana 60s, the early 99 through 2001 F-350 single rear wheels had Dana 50 front axles, just like the F-250's and Excursions of that era. Ford announced a "parts consolidation" move to Dana 60s across the entire Super Duty line in the summer of 2001. I happened to be at KTP when Lew Echlin (a former Super Duty brand manager), made this announcement, amid much cheering from all who were present. What I don't know is if the transition began only after Job 1 for the 2002 model year (ie, summer of 2001) or if it began a few production days or weeks earlier. But the point is, I doubt that someone "downgraded" FordCowboy's axle. Only the dually F-350's, and chassis cab F-350/450/550's got the Dana 60 in the first 4 production years. (e99, 99.5, 00, 01)

This is the inner oil seal I installed on mine:

Northern Drivetrain, LLC: Spicer 52148

Thanks, I was unaware of this!:-down

It is my opinion that on higher mileage trucks, when removing those front axles, if the inner seals are original, if they are not leaking when you take out the axles, they very often will after you put the axles back in. That inner seal rubber has gotten harder over the years and just barely does it's job by constantly being in contact with a nicely polished up axle in there. When you r/r that axle, it is difficult to not scuff that rubber a little bit with the splines going either out or in - take your pick. Just my very humble opinion, worth what you paid for it.

Larry

I bought mine from NAPA, I couldn't tell you what the P/N was though but they were expensive.


I didn't use special tooling just all-thread, washers, and nuts. Worked fine for me.


As an FYI, I also had to change both outer axles where the small roller bearing rides. Mine were worn beyond limits. Good luck!