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rear axle seals

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Woodie

Woodie

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Ok I tried to repair a leaking rear axle seal, paper gasket and o ring. Took off the wheel, undid the 2 drum screws, pulled the drum, no third screw on the hub (HMMM), pulled the axel out and no paper gasket. (HMMM) Looked at the BIG nut to remove. No socket big enough. But all you guys kept saying "make sure you have the paper gasket or it will leak like a sive." Ok I replaced the paper gasket, oh yeah I also put the 3 screws in the right places and tightened every thing up. I will inspect in a few days to see if the cause of the leak was just the lack of the paper gasket.

SO my question, to change the o ring and seal I need to take off the big nut? Correct? and then what. Are they right there, do the ball bearings fall out? or is the bearing just open enough that you can see them. ?
 
The o-ring goes in the same location as the paper seal. There is a groove for it. The third screw is supposed to go through the drum as well.
 
Trevor I must be crazy. When I separated the hub and pulled the axle out, there was no paper gasket. That was where I put my new one. The flanges were smooth with no place for an o-ring. When I put the axle back in the "third" screw went in before the brake drum went on. The drum has 2 holes that are countersunk for the drum screws, and a smaller hole for a screw driver to reach in and tighten the "third Screw". The third screw is not numbered but is at the bottom of this moss picture
https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29295&SortOrder=39

I tried with the third screw on the drum but it was not going to sit flush with the outer surface. Thats when I went back to putting it inside. When I inspect it next weekend, I will look again for the mystery o-ring groove.

By the way the axle looks great, the splines are barely scored and the car has 79000 miles on it.
 
OK, I must be mistaken about the screws. I was thinking it was two under and one through, but it sounds like you have it correct.
 
2 screws in the drum, one in the axle but the 3rd hole in the drum goes over the axle screw. It's for proper balance of the whole works on each axle.
The weight of the 1 axle screw vs the reduced weight of the 3rd brake drum hole.
At least it works on paper /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
As for the O ring, yes, under the paper gasket in the channel on the hub.
To remove the hub nut, a 1 7/8 socket or a crusty old chisel will also loosen the nut.
 
So the groove is on the hub (the part still on the car after the axle is pulled out), not on the removed axle flange , Correct?
 
The O ring goes the same place the paper gasket goes. Between the axle and the hub. And yep it is going to leak without it.
 
spritenut said:
To remove the hub nut, a 1 7/8 socket or a crusty old chisel will also loosen the nut.
Click to expand...

As an aside, I went to princess auto yesterday (after the Ancaster swap meet show) to get a 1 7/8 socket for my rear axle as well as a tap & die set & feeler gauge. I also had it in my minst to get the 1 1/8 (oil filter unit) & 1 13/16? (timing chain) The total would have been about $35. For $48 they had a 3/4 drive set on sale with all the above mentioned & more - I like tools!
 
A half to a 3/4 adapter is nice for the impact wrench. I had to do the same thing. My racing friend tells me the Moss gaskets are the right thickness and the VB ones are to thick.
 
kcbugeye1275 said:
A half to a 3/4 adapter is nice for the impact wrench.
Click to expand...

Already got one - when I took it all apart I borrowed the sockets but had to buy the adapter - I love tools (grunt grunt grunt)
 
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