How often you guys blow rear seals? [Archive]

bronco78

07-09-2002, 03:27 PM

Originally posted by MWellner
How often you guys blow seals

I have never blown a seal, from the front or rear, just not my thing. :flipoff2:

Oh, is that not what you meant? LOL

On a 96 you have a 8.8 axle housing, roller bearings that ride on the axle shaft, using the shaft as the inner race. I would check first your axle housing breather vent. If it is plugged, it will allow pressure to build up at the dif oil heats that will push oil out the seals. If that is not plugged

Next, pull the axles and have the seals, and most likely the bearings replaced.. Look very closely at the axle shaft surface where the seal rides, if this area is grooved, a new seal will not correct the leak. Time for new axle shafts. There is a product called by various names, one of which is Speedy Sleeve. It is basically a thin piece of steel that is fitted to your axle shaft at the seal surface area.. It kind of covers up the damaged area. They work in varying degrees of success, depending on how well it is installed and how bad the damage is to the axle. If it were me and the axle was that worn, I'd replace the shaft.

As for how often it happens? not very, but can if you let the vent get plugged with dirt for a trail run, or I have seen torn up from the glacier silt we have up where I wheel. One run to the Glacier and you better be ready for some long maintenance sessions.


Pirate4x4.Com > Brand Specific Tech > Ford > How often you guys blow rear seals? PDA : How often you guys blow rear seals? MikeW 07-06-2002, 12:32 AM On my 96 Bronco my rear axleshaft seal where it meets the brake drum blew, so theres grease all over the brakes, what causes this, and how often does this happen? bronco78 07-09-2002, 03:27 PM Originally posted by MWellner How often you guys blow seals I have never blown a seal, from the front or rear, just not my thing. :flipoff2: Oh, is that not what you meant? LOL On a 96 you have a 8.8 axle housing, roller bearings that ride on the axle shaft, using the shaft as the inner race. I would check first your axle housing breather vent. If it is plugged, it will allow pressure to build up at the dif oil heats that will push oil out the seals. If that is not plugged Next, pull the axles and have the seals, and most likely the bearings replaced.. Look very closely at the axle shaft surface where the seal rides, if this area is grooved, a new seal will not correct the leak. Time for new axle shafts. There is a product called by various names, one of which is Speedy Sleeve. It is basically a thin piece of steel that is fitted to your axle shaft at the seal surface area.. It kind of covers up the damaged area. They work in varying degrees of success, depending on how well it is installed and how bad the damage is to the axle. If it were me and the axle was that worn, I'd replace the shaft. As for how often it happens? not very, but can if you let the vent get plugged with dirt for a trail run, or I have seen torn up from the glacier silt we have up where I wheel. One run to the Glacier and you better be ready for some long maintenance sessions.