Rear axle

[Davidmccabe]

I am rebuilding a desoto  firedome  rear axle I have put new inner axle seal new races and bearings and outer seal but what lubricates the bearing itself they didn't look like they were packed with axle grease before but that would  be the only way for that bearing  to be lubricated do I just pack the bearing and move on

[Dodgeb4ya]

They are to be packed with grease.

The inner/outer seals get old and the grease leaks out...oil then can leak in at times lubing the both the bearings and shoes some what.

Edited March 7, 2022 by Dodgeb4ya

[greg g]

There should be a plugged fitting on each side of the axle housing near each backing plate. Unscrew the plug and thumb in some grease while turning the wheel. A lot of folks pull the plugs and add zerk  fittings.  Don't do it.  Even  little piston type hand pump will overpower the seal, letting grease onto the backing plate and making a path for gear lube to follow.

Edited March 7, 2022 by greg g

[desoto1939]

18 hours ago, greg g said:

There should be a plugged fitting on each side of the axle housing near each backing plate. Unscrew the plug and thumb in some grease while turning the wheel. A lot of folks pull the plugs and add zerk  fittings.  Don't do it.  Even  little piston type hand pump will overpower the seal, letting grease onto the backing plate and making a path for gear lube to follow.

As Greg g stated look in your service manual it will also tell you the same information as above. i have these on my 39 Desoto so read the manual it will tell you what you need to know.

 

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Davidmccabe]

Should the bearing be packed with grease before I 

put it in or is removing the screw and adding grease enough

[Davidmccabe]

Thanks for the help I will pack the the bearings and hand spin in grease through the screw hole 

[Merle Coggins]

1 hour ago, Davidmccabe said:

Should the bearing be packed with grease before I 

put it in or is removing the screw and adding grease enough

 

Pack the bearings with grease as you would with front wheel bearings. The plug on the axle housing is for adding grease periodically as part of scheduled maintenance. 

[Davidmccabe]

Can someone  tell me what gear oil I should use in the rear end of the desoto  firedome 

[Dodge City]

The old Dodge Shop manual call for a 1950 Dodge to run 90wt. or in Extreme winter 80wt. and change every 20,000 miles or 2 years.

I know yours is a little newer than that.

I run Amsoil 80-90 Severe Gear Synthetic in my 1950 P33. Change every 50,000 miles as recommended by Amsoil. Hope that helps...

[YukonJack]

You should be using GL1. Some newer versions can damage yellow metals. I've heard people say they use Amsoil, but I would check with Amsoil before I used it.

 

Edited March 29, 2022 by YukonJack

[desoto1939]

GL1 is used in trans GL5 is used in rears.

 

Rich