Rear Oil Seal Leak

[Tom Skinner]

Happy Thanksgiving1

I have a 1948 Chrysler Royal with a Left Rear Wheel Oil Seal Leak.

Is there a special Tool to remove this Seal?

Once the Drum is off how do you remove the Seal?

Do I have to break down the Brakes/Remove them, or can I go straight to the Nuts that hold the Seal and remove them?

Then of course how do I install the New Seal?

Tom Skinner

[55 Fargo]

If it's the inner seal, you will need to pull the axle, you do this but disconnecting the brake line and removing the backing plate all in one piece. The outer axle seal hold back the grease around the bearing, the inner seal holds back the diff lube. You should be able to remove this with a eal remover and install with a axle seal driver, I think

[grey beard]

Fred is right with his advice. Problem is, when either seal leaks, it all comes out at the outer seal, so it's pretty difficult to determine which needs to be prelaced.

The outer seal's only purpose is to seal in the small amount of grease used to pack the rear wheel bearing. These seals leak only grease, and rarely. When they do leak, look on the mating surface where the seal lip rides for a wear parttern. If you do replace one of these seals - they can be changed with the drum off - try to put sealer around the outer edge of the seal when you install it.

If the inner seal leaks, you will see gear oil coming out of the axle bearing area. First thing you should do here is to find and clean out the axle housing vent (drive's side top of housing at brake line union). If this vent is plugged or dirty, something will leak, guaranteed. If this is the case, you can change seals all day and the leak will continue. Once you've eliminated that point, the inner seal can only be changed by removing the entire backing place and brake assembly inside the drum. Then you will need a puller to get the axle shaft out of the housing, after which you will be able to access the bearing.

I hope your leak is an outer seal. Inner seals rarely leak. JMHO LOL

[Tom Skinner]

Thanks!

I will have a look next week, as Thanksgiving visits, and Christmas Trees are

more pressing right now with a 9 and 12 year old, than Rear Oil Seals.

I will look for that vent hole tonight.

Tom

[Tom Skinner]

The Vent is free and clean.

I a'm afraid it is the inner seal.

When pulling the Axel, how do you know when putting it back in you are at the right place/spot of insertion?

Tom

[greg g]

As long as the splines engage and it is in to a position wheer the flange is flush, its in.