Hi All.

I've got my rear axle out on my rig (28 spline Ford 9 inch). It's been leaking diff oil on the pass side so I decided to open it up for the first time. Seal was beat to hell upon install (probably contributed to the leak)... BUT there was the STRANGEST gouge I've ever seen on the inside seat that the axle seal butts up against.

Question: Since the seat doesn't touch moving parts... and the diff isn't a pressure system... can I just goop some RTV on there? Could I rebuild the seat with some JBWeld or similar? I'm not in a position to replace the housing, so what can I do for now?

Here are some pictures:

seal
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/blarson04/IMG_4103.jpg

Beat up seal
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/blarson04/IMG_4104.jpg

Sealed removed
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/blarson04/IMG_4108.jpg

a little closer
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/blarson04/IMG_4107.jpg


extra pics:

axle
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/blarson04/IMG_4100.jpg

sludge I found in the housing. yuck.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/blarson04/IMG_4106.jpg


I gotta get this back together ASAP, so hopefully someone can help! Thanks a TON! I love this place.

You can apply some metal set in the gouge area, allow to fully cure, then go back and hand sand it smooth, then I would still apply a bead of rtv prior to reinstallation.

BTW make sure you clean the area real well with some alcohol or naptha alophatic or MEK, that way you can make sure you get a clean bond.

I'd just RTV around the outside of the seal and wheel it.

FWIW, if your housing is in good shape you really aren't supposed to have to RTV a 9" housing end at all. The skirt on the seal is supposed to ride in the groove inside the housing and that seals it. I use a little grease on it when I put it together. That way you can re-use the seal and don't have to press a new bearing and retainer just to seal it.

You could have a competent shop weld new ends on there. It is obvious that yours have been leaking in both directions for awhile (grease out and water in).

Or like was said, you could just RTV the shite out of it and see if it holds.

thanks guys...

rtv'd it... worked great... till i drove it. Then when I come to a stop, there is a little flood of oil that comes out, then it stops. Before it used to leak regardless, now it just seems to leak when I drive it... crap.

I put all new seals and everythign was dead nuts right on. RTV'd around everthing... hmmm... no clue why this mess is leaking.

I might try the grease thing and see... looks like it is coming back apart tomorrow. Will post on how it goes...

Grease isn't going to work on the housing end you showed...it is way too thrashed. Once it gets rust in there like that it won't work, in my experience. Like I said, I think the best fix for this is a new housing or welding a new end on the one you have.

With a new housing you spend $$$ and you get a housing that my or may not be better.

With new ends, you retain your housing and get new, clean, ends on it that are linded up rpoperly (if your housing guy know what he is doing).

In the end, I'm guessing the cost will be about the same.