Help - rear axle leak

[Guest robbiegray]

:help:

 

I've had the rear axle seals replaced twice, and they still seem to be leaking! I

think the mechanics are good, so is there some trick or something for fixing this?

 

Love the wheels otherwise - have 160K miles, still running well. But this continues

to mess up the brake shoes, and I know it can't be a good thing. Current

mechanic says maybe its the housing, not just the seals?? Or, do I need a new

axle??

 

thanks for any help

[Precise1]

Ok, guessing here, but could the bearings be bad allowing runout that is distending and prematurely wearing the seals ? Could the axle shaft be bent doing the same thing ? Is the axle scored ? Does it leak from the center or the edge of the seal ? When did this start ? How long do the seals last ? Do you wheel it hard, or beat on the truck ? There are several possibilities, and you have given little information, such as what year/model the truck is... Someone may chime in having dealt with exactly that problem, but you have to help also...

Just a hunch, but it doesn't sound like the mechanics are that good. If they failed a second (much less third) time quick, it's time to trouble shoot, not keep replacing them.

 

B

[Guest robbiegray]

MORE INFO ON MY AXLE SEAL:

 

OK, thanks for the response. Here's more info.

 

I'm not beating on this vehicle - its my snow trip car, but gets driven

around town mostly. No offroad stuff, and I drive it "nice".

 

I've had two different mechanics (I moved) fix this problem. This last

set of seals lasted about a year before leaking again. Its probably not for

sure that the leak has ever stopped. Mechanics say it is hard to see exactly

where the leak is coming from, it just gums up the brake shoes. This last

one says that it could be coming from the housing, or the seal, but he has

been hesitant to go off and replace things without really knowing whether it

will do any good. Axle could be amiss (bent, scored). Replacing seals

has been the obvious fix, it is now obvious that it isn't just the seals.

 

Its a 1997 LE, 4WD, if that helps. 160K miles. First seals replaced at 85K

miles. 2nd at 152K one year ago. Now its back... Both times the axle seals

replaced. Second time O ring also and bearing.

 

Sorry I am new to this, just hoping I can find some info that will help me..

just don't like throwing parts onto a machine when nobody is clear that it

will fix anything - already tried that and now

[Precise1]

No problem Bud, and thats a much better discription ! Sorry, I know a bit about the WD21's and virtually nothing about the R50's, so I'm not much help. Now that good info is present, I'm sure someone will have input. Hang tight and give them a chance...

 

B

[Slick]

As the seals are leaking again maybe this would be the time to check the axles thoroughly and make sure, as you said, they are not scored or even "warped".....ya never know!

Edited August 9, 2005 by Slick

[unccpathfinder]

i know on the WD21's u have 2 sets of "seals" inner and outter...1 of them is a pain and possibly ure mechanics said they were doing them but just never got around to it if the work is extensive...i just did my inners (i think) b/c the outters were gonna be too mcuh for me to try to do right now esp with no shop to use the press...