Rear axle seal question.

[Vermonter]

I got the Dana 44 front axle all assembled and back on the truck, thank you guys for the input! I'd post pictures, but am not that tech savvy.

I was going to install a new pair of rear axle oil seals, but my research has me with a couple of questions. First off, I have a 67, with from what pictures I can get online the small bearing axle. I see two styles of bearing, either a sealed bearing or a open tapered bearing. I also see posts of people taking the bearing off to get to the seal, or the seal simply being pressed into the axle tube, with the bearing on the outside of it. Am I mistaken? Is there any way to tell what style I have? Also, does anybody have a valid number for the "small" axle oil seal?

Many thanks!!!

 

[Viperwolf1]

The bearing is pressed onto the axle shaft and the seal is inboard of the bearing in the axle tube. Stock axles use a sealed ball bearing. Aftermarket axles may have a tapered roller bearing with an outboard seal. Do not use the inboard seal with the tapered bearing.

Small bearing - National 9568
Large bearing - National 51098

If the rear drums are 10" its small bearing. 11" is big bearing.

 

[Jfryjfry]

Mine has sealed bearings outboard of the seals that press into the axle tube.

 

[Apogee]

Just to add to what Viperwolf1 said, the SET20 tapered roller bearing will only be an option in a large bearing housing end, as the OD is Ø80mm [Ø3.150"], and none of the big-bearing EB housings ever came with SET20's, so they would be aftermarket as well.

There's another type of bearing if we're including aftermarket options, and that would be a sealed ball-bearing with an O-ring seal in the outer race. These are supposed to have grease seals that are rated for oil, so you can technically run them without the inner oil seal pressed into the housing, but it doesn't hurt anything if you run them with the seals in place.

 

[bronkenn]

I had a problem with an axle seal on mine after I rebuilt everything and found the sealing surface on the axle had a groove worn in it. Rather than buying new axles or installing a sleeve I went to my friends hydraulic shop to see if there was something available that would put the sealing lip in a different spot on the axle. He looked up the size of the seal and came up with a double lip seal that was thinner than the stock one so the lip of the seal rode on a new part of the axle. Worked well and haven't had any problems with it since. Part number of the new seal is OS-1.37x2.37x0.31TB

 

[Vermonter]

Thank you for the information! I measured my drums and I do indeed have the small bearing axle (10 inch drums) once I got the wheel and drum off, I acutally found the leaking side has a farly large amount of up and down play in it, so I'm hoping when I get it all apart there isn't too much damage to the axleshaft or housing.

Again, many thanks for the input!

 

[Vermonter]

I got everything apart and cleaned up, the bearing was really shot, but nothing was damaged luckily.

Question, I found what looks like paper gaskets were used between the axle housing and backing plate. There is also what appears to be a paper gasket between the backing plate and bearing retainer. I looked at Tom's Bronco parts website but saw no listing of a flange style paper gasket. Can I forgo those on reassembly? I do have some nice thin sheet gasket material, so making my own wouldn't be a problem.

Thank You!

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, so the bearings wore out and then the seal got wiped because the axle is flopping around. Pretty common.
You do not need those paper gaskets.
Good luck

 

[Maui68]

New seal, where did you get it?

I had a problem with an axle seal on mine after I rebuilt everything and found the sealing surface on the axle had a groove worn in it. Rather than buying new axles or installing a sleeve I went to my friends hydraulic shop to see if there was something available that would put the sealing lip in a different spot on the axle. He looked up the size of the seal and came up with a double lip seal that was thinner than the stock one so the lip of the seal rode on a new part of the axle. Worked well and haven't had any problems with it since. Part number of the new seal is OS-1.37x2.37x0.31TB

What is that part number from? Mine just did the exact same thing I need that seal badly!!

 

[bronkenn]

That was the part number for the narrower double lip seal I used. Just istall it flush with the housing and don't seat it too deep. Here is a link to order it.http://www.hddistributors.com/os-1-37x2-37x0-31tb