Axle Shaft Install Question

[jalfonso1]

Hey guys,

I'm in the process of changing the bearings and oil seals for my rear axle. (Dana 44 Flanged) I took the shafts to a machine shop to have the bearings pressed on and now I'm ready to put everything back together but ran into an issue with the outer oil seal. It seems as though they are not seating correctly and there is about a 1/2 inch gap between brake backing plate and flat part of the axle housing.

The bolts do come through enough to put the nuts on and start tightening down, but I don't want to tighten down that way and break something if that is not the correct way.

Is the oil seal supposed to slide into the brake backing plate middle hole, or does it just press against the edge? If that is the case, I'm not sure it will as it seems a couple millimeters too wide. The seal is the exact diameter of the bearing, so I know it is the correct part.

I attached a photo for reference.

Any ideas?

 

[JR74CJ5]

If the bearing and bearing retainer is all seated fully, it's fine. You just make sure it slides into the spiders / diff fully and then get it going. The seal should slide into the brake backing plate with the bearings, as you stated, they're the same diameter. The race or bearing seat should be fully in the rear tube too, or it would hold it out slightly. Assuming you replaced those too with the new bearings or did the shop?

The brake backing plate, and axle retainer plate should put everything where it should be. go slowly, make sure all splines are lined up in center and that's not what is holding you back. sometimes I spin a little if needed.

Unless I'm misunderstanding the problem. I just did these myself few weeks ago.

Let me know if I missed what you were saying...

 

[jalfonso1]

Thanks for the reply!

Yes, I replaced inner seal, bearing+race & collar (Timken SET10) as well as the outer seal. Everything is seated fine, the only issue I'm having is with the outer seal not pressing into the backing plate. I'm not able to push it into the circle with my fingers even when it is out of the housing sitting on the floor.

My plate has a slide edge/ridge in the middle circle that the seal just butts up against, instead of going inside. I think If I tighten down as is, it will just compress the seal against the bearing?

I posted a pic with an arrow pointing to the ridge I mentioned.

 

[jalfonso1]

So it turns out the "ridge" was actually what was left of old seal wedged in there. It popped out when I was trying to push new seal in by hand. Then I cut it off with Dremel.

All good now!

 

[JR74CJ5]

good news - i was starting to get confused! lol

 

[jalfonso1]

You and me both!

Especially since I saw the old rubber seal on there when I took out the shafts. Still not sure if that was a 2nd oil seal or part of the same one. Was all metal.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I start out CORNFUSED, and go downhill from there.
Glad it worked out.
LG