Disc Brake Conversion Spindle Issue

[jeremywatco]

Finished pulling all the old stuff off for the Front Disc Conversion Kit I purchased from WH. All went smooth.

Instructions say to pay attention to the existing seal on the back of the spindle and match it to the new spindle. Says it has currently installed the older style for older axles and includes a newer style should it need to match up. It specifically says make sure spindle seal looks identical... seems easy enough... oh thats right.. the old spindle didnt have any seal left.. or bearings for that matter..

Any thoughts? This is a dana 44 in a '73 bronco. Here are pictures. Also talks about brass spacer being replaced with a nylon spacer. The spacer(s) in the picture are both nylon.

***EDIT***
After I clicked POST I noticed the axle.. is that the old seal frozen to the axle? Whatever it is its on there good. If it is the seal can I just beat it off?

 

[jeremywatco]

Delete this post. That was the seal stuck on there. I beat it off.. wait that doesnt sound right

 

[DirtDonk]

The metal ring on the axle is a slinger and keeps excessive debris from getting to the seal and possibly past it. Among other bad things debris can do.

The fact that your old thrust washer was plastic says to me that it had been replaced at some point. The originals should all have been bronze in '73 I would think.

The old bearing inside your spindle was surely buggered!
Your spindle looks to be the style that does not get a pressed-on seal. Once you confirm that's true you can remove the seal from your new spindle.

The new parts fit thusly...%) :
Small rubber "ring" seal slips in just behind the spindle bearing and sits relatively flush with the inner end of the spindle surface. Whether it goes open side toward the bearing or away from it is still a subject of much debate. I've always put them with the open face toward the bearing.

Next is the "bellows" or "V type" seal with the thicker ring portion away from the spindle and the "lip" towards the spindle.

The thrust washers have a beveled edge on their inner circumference that always faces away from the spindle. It mates up to the curve of the machined surface of the axle shaft.

If you have not already installed them, you can pack them with grease first, so that when you slide them on over the axle shaft the grease is all the way in and fully packed in the spindle bearing area. All the excess that pushes out can be used to re-pack the wheel bearings.

Good luck. And have fun grinding!

Paul

 

[jeremywatco]

The metal ring on the axle is a slinger and keeps excessive debris from getting to the seal and possibly past it. Among other bad things debris can do.

The fact that your old thrust washer was plastic says to me that it had been replaced at some point. The originals should all have been bronze in '73 I would think.

The old bearing inside your spindle was surely buggered!
Your spindle looks to be the style that does not get a pressed-on seal. Once you confirm that's true you can remove the seal from your new spindle.

The new parts fit thusly...%) :
Small rubber "ring" seal slips in just behind the spindle bearing and sits relatively flush with the inner end of the spindle surface. Whether it goes open side toward the bearing or away from it is still a subject of much debate. I've always put them with the open face toward the bearing.

Next is the "bellows" or "V type" seal with the thicker ring portion away from the spindle and the "lip" towards the spindle.

The thrust washers have a beveled edge on their inner circumference that always faces away from the spindle. It mates up to the curve of the machined surface of the axle shaft.

If you have not already installed them, you can pack them with grease first, so that when you slide them on over the axle shaft the grease is all the way in and fully packed in the spindle bearing area. All the excess that pushes out can be used to re-pack the wheel bearings.

Good luck. And have fun grinding!

Paul

Thanks Paul. Before you posted I already beat the slinger off on one side. After doing some reading this morning it seems that its a crap shoot. Some say it helps with the big stuff, others say it keeps the small debris in... so I am not going to worry about it I guess and just re-assemble without the slinger.

If I choose to keep it without the slinger do I still use the floating v-seal thingy?

 

[DirtDonk]

Yes, the slinger is independent of the seal design and would have been on most axles no matter what style of seal was used.

Paul