axle seals on a 8 3/4

[shadango]

Was crawling around under my fish tonight and noticed a small drip of blackish gear oil hanging from the bottom of my left rear brake drum....

How tough are the axle seals to change? Best place to get them?

[shadango]

Anyone know if 8 3/4" rears are "all"  4 or 5 bolt style seals or if they can be one or the other?

Never mind....did some searching and figured most of this out...those would be the outer seals I was thinking of and I am going to try and not change those right now....

The dealer had part #4796698 Axle Inner seal (found elsewhere here) listed but not in stock anywhere near me...has to come from Cleveland...will be here tomorrow, and there is only one......lucky for me that just the driver side is leaking right now....

So, the questions now are ---

Can I just pull the axle on the driver side and not mess with the adjustment stuff on the right side? Or do I have to pull both sides, which means replacing BOTH inner seals (per the manual...if you pull the axle you have to change the seal)

Should the axle just pull out by hand or will i need a puller?

I have yet to open up the drum to see if my brakes are covered or if its just a little leak, not yet hitting the shoes.....the shoes were like new when I looked at them a few weeks ago too...

[Bullitt-]

You should take this opportunity to pull both & grease the axle bearings...

Seals you will need are available through most parts stores for less than $10.00 total. These are not the axle seal that lets fluid leak.     You need a grease gun & needle point for it.

Felpro 13800 outer dust seal
Felpro 55032 axle flange gasket

[shadango]

Doesnt the outer seal require removing the bearing and such?

[Bullitt-]

To do anything requires pulling the axle, bearings are on the axle... outer seal (axle flange gasket) goes between brake backing plate & axle housing, dust seal goes between axle bearing retainer & brake backing plate, the part that failed if your leaking differential gear oil, inner axle seal is in the tube behind the bearings .... The bearings are not lubed by the gear oil but are greased like front axle bearings. 

This link may help... it's straight forward remove & reinstall
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=35471.0

[shadango]

I got it...the way you listed the seals I thought you meant I should do those while I was at it too....

Didnt really want to get into removing the bearings from the axle etc unless they are bad when I get the axles out.

I found one of the inner seals at Napa..the other one I pick up tomorrow...and then I also got the other two seals for each side just in case, due in tuesday.

WIll probably wait till all the parts are in before I tear it down.

[Bullitt-]

I think you will understand when you take it apart...axle & bearings come out 1st
  I made this post last night on the subject. Kindof
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=60577.msg622967#msg622967

[shadango]

Right, the bearings come out on the axle when you pull it...

What I am saying is that, going by what was posted, you have to chisel off a part and then press or cut the old bearing off the axle once you pull it....and then press a new one on, etc....all that to change the outer seal.

I plan on skipping that if that is what you neeed to do, UNLESS the bearings are bad of course...

But greasing them a bit if they are ok would definately be in my plans....

All the greaes I own sy you have to remove all the old grease though since "different soap types are not compatible".

I have no way of knowing what type was used before I got the car....so woudl I be doing more harm than good adding grease to what is there?

ANd it has to be wheel bering grease versus chassis grease...so I have to go buy another grease gun if I want to use the "needle" method....

[Bullitt-]

No need to remove the bearings from the axle just to grease & replace any of the 3 seals.

[shadango]

Huh?  Ok now I am confused.....

There are seeveral posts saying otherwsie. But here is one of them.....

WHat am I missing?

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=52393.0

[Bullitt-]

I see the statement that is confusing you in Cryco's  response but you do not have to remove the bearings from the axle to replace the outer flange seal.... the key to your issue if you are leaking differential oil is

Why are you cahnging the outer axle seal ? , the outer seal is just a grease seal , the retainer ring needs to be cut & the brg pressed off & pressed back on with a new retainer ring to get at it , if the diff is leaking oil it is generally a damaged inner seal that is the problem, these are easy to change

Just take it apart...you will see.

[shadango]

Cool...THANKS!

Just have to pick up a new grease gun so I can load wheel bearing grease into it versus the chassis grease....

Did you see my question about the "soap type" stuff?

[Bullitt-]

Don't forget the needle attachment for the grease gun...AHH you didn't read my link             I used mineral spirits with a blow gun...if you don't have those try WD40 followed by some "Brake Clean", spray can of cleaner that evaporates quickly.  You want to get all the old grease out, I was amazed at the chucks of dried stuff in mine.   
   & you absolutely need to do this on the side that has had the leak as it has been compromised....This is a maintenance item that is usually neglected so do the other side also.

Good Luck 

[Chryco Psycho]

the outer seal behind the brg is a grease seal , no need to replace it , just replace the inner oil seal ionside the axle tube & regrease the brgs