Dana 44 Inner Axle Seal

[flexmerc]

I needed new Dana 44 Axle Seals because the older ones were too wide for my axles and caused leaking.

I purchased axle seals from three locations and I still do not have the correct axle seal.
For the record, the Summit Racing Part is the same part number as Toms Bronco and $15.00 cheaper

But i still need a Inner Axle seal, and it seems to me the one that i have on is the one labeled Dana 30.

Thoughts, suggestions?

Axle seal from East Coast Axle Supply
https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-23993166-dana-44-inner-axle-seal-2-63-od.html
Axle seal from Toms Bronco
https://tomsoffroad.com/parts/72-77-ford-bronco-dana-44-inner-axle-tube-seal
Axle from Summit
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SDH-36352

 

[Glass Pony]

I bought mine from Jeff's the last time I needed them, and they fit fine.
https://shop.broncograveyard.com/D44-Inner-Front-Axle-Tube-Seal-Each/productinfo/12199/

 

[Torkman66]

To clarify, the ones you had were too wide? Do you mean the inner circumference size was larger than the axle shaft?

 

[flexmerc]

To clarify, the ones you had were too wide? Do you mean the inner circumference size was larger than the axle shaft?

Negative, they were the correct diameter, but the protruding port is hitting the inner axle.

 

[flexmerc]

This is the OG inner seal, but the rubber wouldn't seal around the axle, thus causing it to leak

 

[DirtDonk]

What’s the depth and girth of the original? Can you put them side-by-side on the table?

 

[Torkman66]

Sorry for the questions but wanting to understand. I just did this to my 44 without issue. Are you saying the seal casing that is the smaller diameter that goes into the tube is hitting those rounded edges of the tube where your red arrows are in your pic above?

 

[flexmerc]

Sorry for the questions but wanting to understand. I just did this to my 44 without issue. Are you saying the seal casing that is the smaller diameter that goes into the tube is hitting those rounded edges of the tube where your red arrows are in your pic above?

yes
This one looks like what i pulled out, but its for Dana 30
https://tomsoffroad.com/parts/66-71-ford-bronco-dana-30-inner-front-axle-seal

 

[jamesroney]

Sorry for the questions but wanting to understand. I just did this to my 44 without issue. Are you saying the seal casing that is the smaller diameter that goes into the tube is hitting those rounded edges of the tube where your red arrows are in your pic above?

Yup...the problem is that he left half of the old seal in the housing. The original seals on the early axles were a two piece. with a metallic "lead in" collar, and a regular flat seal. The replacement has the lead in collar molded into the seal itself.

It's kinda tricky to get the old collar out because they rust / stick to the axle tube, and of course they are made to guide the axle shaft...so they are rounded and there's no good place to grab them.

@flexmerc ...as soon as you knock the old one's out...the new ones will fit. @DirtDonk ...beware! He has a new seal partially visible just above the calipers that is wrong and shouldn't be anywhere near a D44 in an Early Bronco. (unless he is running a 78-79 D44!!!)

Gotta go.

 

[Torkman66]

As always, great catch James! You can try to put a long 1” pipe into tube opening and catch the edge of the inner portion of that seal lip and knock it out. Might work best.

 

[Torkman66]

Here is what’s going on from the shop manual. You have the original seal 3248 and 3254. You removed 3254 and still have 3248 in the tube. As James points out, the new seals incorporate the “guide” ring 3248 into the seal itself.

 

[flexmerc]

Yup...the problem is that he left half of the old seal in the housing. The original seals on the early axles were a two piece. with a metallic "lead in" collar, and a regular flat seal. The replacement has the lead in collar molded into the seal itself.

It's kinda tricky to get the old collar out because they rust / stick to the axle tube, and of course they are made to guide the axle shaft...so they are rounded and there's no good place to grab them.

@flexmerc ...as soon as you knock the old one's out...the new ones will fit. @DirtDonk ...beware! He has a new seal partially visible just above the calipers that is wrong and shouldn't be anywhere near a D44 in an Early Bronco. (unless he is running a 78-79 D44!!!)

Gotta go.

Awesome dudes, Im gonna be home tomorrow (calling in sick) I'll giver a shot!
@jameseoney correct about the wrong axle seal in the photo, I ordered it from east coast axle supply, it's all kind of wrong

 

[flexmerc]

you were correct, it is a older style two-piece inner oil seal.

 

[bax]

Good stuff, I came late to the party.

 

[sprdv1]

Good stuff, I came late to the party.

Better late than never brother..