Axle leaking

[493 Mike]

If you have a new foam gasket, use it. You could also use some grease and gear oil high temp sealer. A small amount of sealer on the other gasket would not hurt. If the wheel bearings are saturated with gear oil, I would let them drip dry and then repack as best you can with a needle grease gun.

You must remember the axle bearings are NOT lubed by differential lube. They must be hand packed.
Mike

 

[khryslerkid]

I think you should measure how far the seal is in from the end of the housing, and check it against the axle. On the last one I did, tapping it in untill it stopped was too far in, and it would miss the seal surface on the axle. I made a special tool that kept the seal square and inserted it the correct distance. The factory tool is similar.

Check the seal location and compare it to the axle surface when you take it apart this time. What R/TBoy says makes sense.

Here's the gaskets.

Steel gasket...

Then backing plate. Then foam gasket.

 

[Hamid]

it is obvious the the inner seals are leaking 493 Mike, still can't imagine how and why they leaks !!!!!!.
Do they leak at the inside diameter where the shaft goes or at the O.D ?.
I bought 2 sets of the metal and foam gaskets, waiting for them to arrive then I will start re installation.

 

[493 Mike]

it is obvious the the inner seals are leaking 493 Mike, still can't imagine how and why they leaks !!!!!!.
Do they leak at the inside diameter where the shaft goes or at the O.D ?.
I bought 2 sets of the metal and foam gaskets, waiting for them to arrive then I will start re installation.

When you open up the axle inspect for deep scratches/gouges in the housing where the seal resides. Perhaps lube is coming around seal. I have never used any sealant on these seals but it wouldn't hurt to use some. Are you using mineral or synthetic based axle lubricant? Synthetics seem to find small spaces easier to move through in my experience.
Mike

 

[R/T Boy 67]

If the old seals are still in place, then smear some grease on the seal surface of the axles and slide them in. When you pull them out it will be obvious if the seals are sitting where they should.

 

[Hamid]

Well,,,,, in A & B bodies forum I saw may threads of the same problem, some with photos with the axle and bearing that I liked as more info, great help.
I used a grade 90 oil, don't know if it is synthetic or mineral. There is a 140 grade oil that one of my friend recommended it for me.

R/T boy, you mean that way can tell where the oil leaks at.

 

[Hamid]

R/T: what do you mean by repack, is it re grease the bearing or take them out and re install them?

 

[R/T Boy 67]

Don't remove them, just re grease them, as best you can, with a thin needle grease gun .

 

[493 Mike]

I've repacked these on the axle for decades. Wash all the old grease out in your wash tank, blow dry, and pack new grease into them. I use my first two fingers as a tool to push it in-just keep pushing until you are satisfied the bearing is full. I stand the axle up on the bench to do this.
Mike

 

[Hamid]

I removed the 2 seals, found scratches and gouges in the axle housing, I don't know if that was me or the prev owner( I used a hammer and chisel not a puller to remove the seal). Did not smooth or sand the area just smeared some mix of PC11 in the axle housing and the O.D of the seals, installed them( I measured how far the seal should be in so it seats on the exact point on axle).
Axle end play adjusted, lock found missing, bought one from eBay, now I have to wait 10 days till it gets here. I believe it is not recommended to drive the car with the lock not installed, I noticed that when I removed the axle the end play was far out.
here are 2 pics of the axle housing after removing the shaft.

 

[493 Mike]

You could fabricate a lock tab to speed up the process.
Mike

 

[Hamid]

I got the lock I bought from eBay 20 Jun, installed it, just waiting for drive test to see if the seal still leaking.

 

[R/T Boy 67]

I hope it works out well for you.

 

[Cranky]

Nope, shouldn't drive it without the lock...and I would smooth out the gouges especially if they have sharp edges sticking up. I have a buddy that uses the end of the axle to pry the seals out....I like to use a long punch and put a hole in it and then pry it out. Either way works.

 

[68rules]

I got the lock I bought from eBay 20 Jun, installed it, just waiting for drive test to see if the seal still leaking.

View attachment 623162 View attachment 623163

How did the drive test go? I just finished up mine, no leaks so far... You did have some scoring of the tube shaft where the seal goes. That may be your problem. If it still leaks, Like cranky said smooth it out best you can. Look how I applied sealer inside the tube shaft, it may help.

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/axle-seal-issues.88053/page-3

 

[Hamid]

The drive test came out negative, the axle still leaking.
I thought the seal I applied (PC11) was enough to cover the scratches and gouges. All axles I saw in the forum were nice and smooth not like mine.
I really don't know what is wrong, the seal is correct and fits tight on axle shaft and in the tube.
I will take the seal out for the third time and get a help from a friend maybe he can point something.
Wish to hear some ideas to get over with this problem.

 

[Cranky]

The drive test came out negative, the axle still leaking.
I thought the seal I applied (PC11) was enough to cover the scratches and gouges. All axles I saw in the forum were nice and smooth not like mine.
I really don't know what is going wrong, the seal is correct and fit tight on axle shaft and in the tube.
I will take the seal out for the third time and get a help from a friend maybe he can point something.
Wish to hear some ideas to get over this problem.

Did you use a sealant on the O.D. of the seal? I like to smear some on the axle tube before installing the seal especially if the housing fit has scratches etc in it. Then let it sit over night before running the car.

 

[Hamid]

Yes Cranky, I did.
Maybe the seal I used is not sealing good. I bought me couple of seals and one high temp sealant called RTV. Tomorrow morning I will start the job. I liked the pic of the axle where the red sealant was applied first.
I am wondering where does the oil leaked from???????, was it from under the seal between the seal and the axle tube or at the axle shaft, (O.D or I.D), how could you tell?.

 

[68rules]

Yes Cranky, I did.
Maybe the seal I used is not sealing good. I bought me couple of seals and one high temp sealant called RTV. Tomorrow morning I will start the job. I liked the pic of the axle where the red sealant was applied first.
I am wondering where does the oil leaked from???????, was it from under the seal between the seal and the axle tube or at the axle shaft, (O.D or I.D), how could you tell?.

View attachment 632040

Sorry to hear its still leaking, Is it only one side or both? Ok on the pc11. You really have to look at the rubber seal. Compare it to a new unused one, see if it is not round anymore. Maybe its wearing in one spot or something is not straight causing it to wear strange on the ID. Another thing to note would be if it only leaks after driving it? If it can hold after filling up the rear with no leaking just sitting then I would say your pc11 and the tube OD is sealed up good. The RTV should help with the OD. Make sure it dries and then fill up rear a day or 2 later.

 

[Hamid]

Both sides leaks 68rules.
This morning I took a look at floor around the tires, didn't see any oil, so I will clean the area where oil splashed, take the car for a ride and see if it still leaks.