Back Axle Bearing

[Slipperymustang]

Happy Christmas, and new Year. I Need to know if the seal is in the Bearing, as on my Estate the one on the nearside is leaking oil, pulled the half shaft to put some new longer studs in for my new minilights  the oil has been leaking for a long time. I have got to fit new shoe,s.as oil is soaked them.Any advise would be welcome. Thanks Jim.

 

[rallyesport04]

the bearing is the seal

[Vista]

As above, I had problems with two sets of brand new bearings passing oil through and ended up fitting radial lip seals on both half shafts.

[Slipperymustang]

Hi Vista,How did you fit the new bearings is it easy do it myself or would I have to go to a garage. Thanks Jim

[dustydog]

You need a press to fit new bearing on to shaft and a puller to remove from diff if that helps

[Vista]

As above, it's simple to do but if you don't have the right kit to do it with, it's cheaper to get it done for you than it is to buy that kit.

[JP.]

I had at least 8 bearing failures as you describe during the last six years with several of our Capri's with the exception of our mk1 Capri's (different size bearing) It appears only the old stock ones live longest cause even the First line product that Burton sells wont last long.
Seal goes shot, diff oil mixes with bearing grease, all the stuff thins out and leak's through your brake drum leaving a mess.

 

It looks like ( in my experience ) that all the new brands I tested are all the same Chinese crap only in a different package. Its not the NKF quality as it used to be.

 

What I nowadays do before fitting a new one is an old motorcycle front fork trick. Just take out the spring from the inside of the seal ( inner side bearing ).

Twist it loose an cut out about 5mm ( not on the tapered side ) and twist it back together and put it back in. Seal is now tighter and will last some longer.
I know its a bandage but I still haven't found decent ones that are faultless. Even the ones Gartrac sells go shot. By luck I can make 3000mile with a bearing.

 

I have a 80T press and even pressing new bearings on the axle wont make a difference.
Even Valvoline mineral diff oil won't make a difference.

[Vista]

I had at least 8 bearing failures as you describe during the last six years with several of our Capri's with the exception of our mk1 Capri's (different size bearing) It appears only the old stock ones live longest cause even the First line product that Burton sells wont last long.

Seal goes shot, diff oil mixes with bearing grease, all the stuff thins out and leak's through your brake drum leaving a mess.

 

It looks like ( in my experience ) that all the new brands I tested are all the same Chinese crap only in a different package. Its not the NKF quality as it used to be.

 

What I nowadays do before fitting a new one is an old motorcycle front fork trick. Just take out the spring from the inside of the seal ( inner side bearing ).

Twist it loose an cut out about 5mm ( not on the tapered side ) and twist it back together and put it back in. Seal is now tighter and will last some longer.

I know its a bandage but I still haven't found decent ones that are faultless. Even the ones Gartrac sells go shot. By luck I can make 3000mile with a bearing.

 

I have a 80T press and even pressing new bearings on the axle wont make a difference.

Even Valvoline mineral diff oil won't make a difference.

 

 

Exacty the problem I was having, I had lengthy phone calls about it with Tom and John of Fostek ( Competition axle builders) their solution of a radial shaft seal between the half shaft and axle tube seems to have sorted the issue, permanently I hope.

[popeye]

As above, I had problems with two sets of brand new bearings passing oil through and ended up fitting radial lip seals on both half shafts.

 

Scott.

Where did you get your replacement radial lip seals...are these simply , old one's pressed off and radials pressed on !!  no extra machining !

Gary.

[Vista]

Scott.

Where did you get your replacement radial lip seals...are these simply , old one's pressed off and radials pressed on !!  no extra machining !

Gary.

 

From a local bearing supplier. They're standard radial seals pushed onto the haft shaft and then inserted with the half shaft into the axle tube. I just measured the OD of the half shaft and the ID of the axle tube and the local bearing supplier had a pair in stock that were a perfect fit. They're fitted in addition to the seals in the bearings not instead of and sit inboard of the bearing.

[popeye]

ok

not to sure how this works I'll have to look into this more...thanks.

[Vista]

It's a simple radial seal (like the ones below) pushed inside the axle tube mate. It seals the oil inside the axle tube before it reaches the bearing. The outer diameter seals against the inside of the axle tube and needs to be a tight fit, the inner face is the lip seal against the half shaft and is tensioned by a  built in spring

 

[popeye]

I understand now.... many thanks..

did you fit the seals your self.

[Vista]

I understand now.... many thanks..

did you fit the seals your self.

 

 

No as I don't have the presses I needed to remove the old bearings and fit the new ones. I had it done when the van went in to have the CWP changed from 3.75:1 to 3.22:1. As it's an Atlas axle and has a reverse watts linkage bracket right behind the rear diff cover, the axle has to come right off the van to get any access to work on the diff.

[popeye]

ok thanks..