Time has come for new axles, bearings and seals (repair bearings have already been used). Any tips for installing the bearings and seals that might save me time, expense, and/or frustration?

JamesC

 

Have you removed them yet?
I rented a bearing remover for axle bearings, ie slide hammer. Works like a charm. It yanked the bearings and seals all at once. New bearing goes in easily, then seal holds it in place IIRC.
Use a piece of 2x4 or 4x4 to put in new seal. Get a buddy to hold that in place and whack it with your BIG sledge.

Easy as pie, no worries.

 

I'm waiting on Summit for the axles. I'd intended on renting a slide hammer and bearing/seal driver from Autozone.

I installed the current repair bearings, which have an internal seal and which protrude 3/8" or so from the axle housing, with a 2x4 end and a BFH, but that can't be done with the OE's, so I assume a driver is needed. Any RTV here or there?

JamesC

 

no rtv needed on axles. pull the old out, with a slide hammer puller, and put the new one in, you can use the old bearing as an installer to get the bearing started, then switch to a big socket or some other round piece of metal (I have bunch of scrap I use for this type of stuff, or use a brass drift and work it around in a circular pattern and tap the bearing all the way in.

only special trick to this job is to only install the seal outer face FLUSH to the housing , don't try and drive it in until it seats. which is why sonix suggested a piece of wood. I'll usually use a block of metal that has a nice true face on it so it ends up flush.

 

Yea, I used the block of wood to drive the OE seals in...
I was pretty sure the bearing just sat in the housing, with the seal holding it in place. Ie no hammering/driving needed....

No RTV. If you really want, you could try to put some on the OUTSIDE of the seal, but it isn't needed, as it's an interference fit.

 

So essentially a driver for the bearing, 2x4 for the seal?

JamesC

 

pretty much.

 

Ok, now you got me wondering.
Be sure to post up after you're done James, I want to know if you needed a driver for the bearing, or if it just "drops in". My memory is hazy.

 

they definitely don't just 'drop' in, but they are not a very tight press fit.

 

By the way, I mention RTV because I used it on the outside of the repairs bearings and it seemed to make driving the bearing in a bit easier.

Can the seal be whacked in in a single blow? If not, how will the seal be affected (I don't want to do this a third time)?

JamesC

 

the seals don't need to be installed in one 'shot', just use a flat peice of wood or preferably metal, and just tap it lightly to square it up in the tube, they hammer it in with the plate/wood, just keeping an eye on squareness. the outside of the seal has a paint/coating that pretty much acts as a lube/sealer.

 

The bearing sits in as far as the shoulder for the seal, then requires a brisk whack or two to drive it against its shoulder. Seal went easily enough as well. So far no problems. I hope to finish up in the next two or three days--yes, I'm slow.

JamesC