Well, first off, I feel really stupid for not realizing I had a leak in my brakes after all this time. But, anyway, I took my driver's side rear tire and drum off to inspect it. Turns out there is a big leak and it's leaked and caked up all over the brake drum, all of the brake parts (shoes, springs, backing plate), and even on the inside of the wheel and behind the axle. I know I'm going to need new brake shoes since the ones on there now are soaked, but I just want to confirm that its the wheel cylinders that are leaking since it was on the brake hardware and on the drum and the inside of the wheel. So, am I right in my diagnosis, or not? Thank you in advance for the help.

 

It could possibly be the axel seal.

 

Might be a wierd question, but is there a way to tell exactly if it's the axle seal that is leaking? Now that I think about it all the crude that was caked up smelled kind of like gear oil. Any suggestions or advice?

 

Brake fluid evaporates; so if it's all caked up, it probably isn't brake fluid.

If it smells like gear lube, it probably is gear lube.

You can pop the axle out and replace the seal. But usually, if the seal leaks, it's because the bearings are trashed; and if the bearings are bad, the axle is destroyed. Only way to know is to take it out and look.

 

Just get rid of it for a disc brake rear end with posi .

 

i still would take a good look at your brake cylinders in the rear man before you go buying rearends or axles or anthing else ....you need to put the rear drums back on the car and have someone get in it and press the hell out of the brakes and then take the drums back off and see if it accumulated any brake fluid or if it is leaking out the back of the drum somewhere if not then yes look at your axle seals

 

Thank you for the help everyone. I am going to pull the axle out and replace the seal and inspect the bearing. I am also going to check my wheel cylinders once I get done with the axle. I have to replace the brake shoes anyway since all that leaking fluid kind of soaked them. Not too sure if I want to drive around with those still on.

 

Does anyone know the proper name for the axle seal (repair manual I have calls it an axleshaft oil seal)? I can't seem to find them on Autozone.com or PartsAmerica.com. I always like to check online before I go to the store. I'm just trying to see how much one is going to cost.

 

rear wheel seal

 

Well, after thinking it was just a wheel cylinder, then just an axle seal, I now think it is both. The wheel cylinder is definetely leaking, I was just pushed one side in and when it popped back out, squirt!, and now is is slowly leaking. One question, though, am I going to need any special tools to take out and install a new axle seal (I know I need a tool for the wheel cylinder, probably)?

 

axle seal is not too bad

pull rear end cover, remove lock bolt, remove cross shaft, push axle in, remove c-clip from end of axle, slide axle out, pop seal out with seal remover or large screwdriver, intall new seal(put some RTV on outside diameter of seal) with a socket or similar as a driver, and a hammer

reverse to install , you can use RTV for the cover, if you have posi, use some additive, fill through plug towards the front of the diff