Another rear seal question

[mikke60]

Pulled off the rear wheels to work on air bags. To my surprise ,the hub was pretty wet,and I assume the seal is to blame. Is this a major repair for the home mechanic?
Thanks,Mike

[biff]

I did mine not a bad job.other than the drums are heavy.

[Gordie Allen]

I just had my right rear inner seal replaced. Mostly just heavy wheels / tires. You need to have adequate jack stands for all that rear end weight. Preferably a 3/4" impact to get the lugs off. Pull the wheels, then the hub. Wash and re-grease the bearings. Check the condition of the brake shoes while you're there. The linings are probably soaked with differential grease. I did my front brakes myself, couldn't face doing the rear, so I took it to a shop. They replaced the seals, pulled wheels on both sides and checked the wear on the brakes. Degreased the right brake shoe set with solvent. I would have replaced the linings as I didn't think they could be effectively degreased. The only parts were the seals. Labor was just under $500. Worth every penny from my perspective..

[Charles in SC]

I did mine myself. Not a bad job but takes some time and it is a good time to look over other things under there and redo as needed. Mine run in grease rather than oil but I do not think that changes the amount of work.

[buswarrior]

A sheet of galvanized, oiled to facilitate sliding,
A good hydraulic jack to precisely control the height,
Remove the wheels and drums as a unit, sliding on the sheet of metal.

Do your pm to brakes, bearings, replace seal, aim carefully through the centre hole, do NOT scrape the new seal, slide it all back together, tighten and back off according to traditional methods,


Celebrate.

Happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Dave5Cs]

Bw just a question. How do you remove the wheels and drums as a unit if they have those darn screws in the drums. You can't get to them without taking off the wheels IIRC. Interested for the secret trick!....
Dave5Cs

[lostagain]

Those screws hold the drums to the hubs. So you would remove the wheels, drums, and hubs all in one. This past winter, I wanted to separate everything so it would be easier the next time. The screws are difficult to extract. I had to drill most of them out, then clean out the threads with a tap. I replaced them with new screws with an allen head that will be easier to turn off next time. I used antiseeze too.

JC

[luvrbus]

Dave,it is just as easy to remove with the tires and hub in 1 piece if you have the wheel jack,I don't drill and tap the screws I just blow the heads off with a torch remove the drums and you can remove the screws easy with a pair of vise grips

[mikke60]

What about the actual seal, where exactly is it located as this is the drive wheels

[lostagain]

It is seated in the back of the hub. Drive it out with a punch and hammer. Put the new one in carefully, hammering onto a piece of 2x4 wood, or the old seal. Lube the inner lip and the spindle with a little bit of grease, and slide the hub back in without damaging the seal.

JC

[mikke60]

Ok
I will open it up and check imt out
Thanks

[Boomer]

You guys forgot to school him on using a 5 or 8 lbs. sledge to pop the axle out, lol.