Rear axle shaft leak

[byson1]

I've replaced the outer seal on the driver side rear axle (small bearing Ford 9") 2x now and it's still slightly leaking. The axle shaft has worn enough in the seal area to cause a groove. Any options other than replacing the axle shaft?

 

[half cab]

Is your vent tube stopped up? Or is it breathing freely?

 

[byson1]

The vent tube is venting.

 

[DirtDonk]

Some other options would be first to make sure you can't just smooth it out. If the groove is not that deep, some fine sandpaper/emory cloth will smooth it out enough for a better seal.

You can also seat the seal at a different depth so that it rides on a different part of the axle.
You don't have much leeway here, but used in conjunction with smoothing the axle, it can work well.

Same can be said for seating the bearing to a different depth, but I would not really want to do that on our type of setup. Not sure why, just don't like the idea in this case. Done it on other things, just not a Bronco axle shaft.

Smoothing any imperfections in the axle housing end can help if the gear lube is leaking around the outside of the seal.
Adding sealer to the outside of the seal before installing is what has helped more than a few Ford 9" axle owners over the years.

When you pull yours apart, make sure to find out where the fluid is getting by. Just to be sure.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Oh, and yes, you can certainly buy a new axle and be done with it, if it's the shaft itself.
Probably about $135 and shipping will get the job done from us: http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/category/bronco_rear_axle
But there are likely used stockers ready to go in the classifieds here as well. Lots of us upgrading to bigger axles and needing to get rid of some older ones cheap.

Good luck

Paul

 

[tbratz]

You can get a repair or redi-sleve. I have used them in the past and they work fine. Also, this may sound silly but double check the lips on your seal. I went through this same thing and turned out the seals I had been buying only had one lip, which was allowing the oil to leak out. They should be double lipped. I was getting the seals from auto-zone. I went to NAPA and they were correct.

 

[half cab]

X2 on NAPA. That's where I found mine.

 

[byson1]

Thanks guys!
-that gives me some options.