Wheel seal gone!

Shawn T · February 28, 2006

(truck in sig)

I have a LR wheel seal leaking fluid and it is like a centrafuge spinning it all over the wheel, inner fender, brake rotor, and caliper. I have changed a seal on a half ton once and it was kind of combersome. With a full floating axle, can I just remove the inner axle from the hub end? If I remember right, on the half ton, I had to open the rear diff and remove a clip. Do I have to re-pack the wheel bearings? Truck only has 50K miles? I do have larger tires but this is the 11.5 FF designed to spin duals so I don't think the extra weight would cause a bearing to fail. Does a bad seal mean a failed bearing or damaged axle? This sucks! I never even used the factory warranty, not even once.

asilverblazer · February 28, 2006

You could see if they will fix it, never hurts to ask.

Haulin' 8.1 · February 28, 2006

You won't have to open the diff, the axle is retained by the bearing retainer on the ends like you think.

If the bearing isn't lubricated by the diff oil, then yes repack it.

Vernon

Shawn T · March 7, 2006

You won't have to open the diff, the axle is retained by the bearing retainer on the ends like you think.

If the bearing isn't lubricated by the diff oil, then yes repack it.

Vernon

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, I am almost ready to tackle this. One other question. I remember packing front hubs on GM trucks and the bearing retianer used a special two "toothed" socket. If I enterpret your response right, the retainer is held in by the the nuts on the outside of the hub. There is no other nut on the inside. Everything should be loose as soon as I pull the hub end off with the inner axle. I guess my question is, do I need any special tools? Am I making a mountain out of a mohill?