I think my rear-end seals are leaking, with fluid running down the axles and coating the drums. Hence, my brakes have been grabbing at low speed (<10mph).

Anyone ever replaced their leaky seals before?? Is it a huge PITA or can it be done on a Saturday with a normal set of tools?

Chiltons does not really specifically address it, so thats why i'm asking here.

thanks,
Matt

 

Ive changed out a few seals on a couple different GM rear ends....(10 bolt and 12 bolt)
Its not really all that difficult to do, the only tool I can think of that may help you is a seal puller...But I imagine you could use some creativity in pulling the old seals out, not that you would need to preserve them.

Installing the new seals isnt that bad, I just use a small 2x4 and a hammer, and just slowly and evenly drive them into place...Havent had any come back and leak on me since ive changed em.

Hope that helps ya out some

 

i just use the axle as a pry bar to pop the old seals out. it's pretty simple job.

 

It's a pretty simple job; pop the rear end cover off, take out the little bolt and the cross shaft and the C-clips and slide the axles out, swap the seals.

However: about 99.999% of the time that the seals leak, it's because the bearings are bad; and since the inner race of the bearing is the axle itself, if the bearing is bad, so is the axle. Changing the seal will not fix the leak if the bearings are bad, and changing the bearings will do no good whatsoever if the axles are wasted. So, have a pair of good axles on hand, ready to swap when you do this, because you probably need them. If you can find the place on the axles that the bearings run, they're bad; that whole part of the axle should be smooth and flat, with no "groove"-looking place for the bearing.

To change the bearings, use a 6' piece of about ¾" electrical conduit or water pipe.

 

Many places sell "axle saver" bearings. The area on the axle that the bearing rides is actually pretty wide, so the axle saver bearings are offset so that they ride on a different part of the axle. Very good and cost effective.

Also, I would say that the "99.99%" figure is a little high. I see alot of clogged axle vents which will cause fluid to blow past the seals, and sometimes I see seals just plain go bad w/ no damage to the bearings, but he does have a point, the bearings can go bad, and all the seals in the world won't stop it from leaking if the bearing is bad.

 

thanks alot; more than likely, I'll just get a rear-end rebuild kit and have everything taken care of. I'd really like to scrap it and just get a rebuilt with 3 series 3.23's or 3.42's. Who knows? Anyway, I appreciate the posts.