A rear axle seal prevents gear lubricant from leaking out of the axle housing around the axle shaft. Early versions were made of leather or cotton rope, but modern designs use steel and rubber. To replace a leaking seal, the axle must be removed and the new seal installed with silicone and tapped into place.
A rear axle seal is a device that retains gear lubricant within the rear axle and prevents lubricant from leaking out of the axle housing around the axle shaft. A circular metal device with a smooth rubber rim, the rear axle seal sits inside the axle housing tube and fits snugly around the axle shaft. Gear lubricant from inside the axle housing maintains the rear axle seal lubrication, preventing the seal from cracking or burning, and a small amount of gear lubricant or oil, wiped on the seal lip during installation, provides initial lubrication.
While a modern rear axle seal design uses steel and rubber to retain rear axle lubricant, early versions of the seal were constructed of leather or cotton rope. Early versions of the rear axle seal prevented large amounts of lubricant from escaping the axle housing, however the rope and leather versions did not fully seal the axle, and most housings leaked a small amount of gear lube on streets and parking lots. In some racing applications, it was typical for a team to pack the axle tube with oil-soaked rags in an attempt to create a better rear axle seal.
To change a leaking rear axle seal, it is necessary to remove the target axle wheel and tire. Once the tire is removed, the axle is removed from the axle housing in a manner that is typical for the type of axle being used on the vehicle. Depending on the year, type, and manufacturer of the axle housing, there are several different methods of removing the differential axle and axle housing. With the axle removed, the rear axle seal can be removed from the bearing cup at the end of the axle housing with a seal removal tool. If a special tool is not available, a screwdriver, hammer, or crowbar can often be substituted.
Once the old seal is removed, the axle bearing cup can be cleaned and the new seal can be installed on the axle tube. Most seal manufacturers recommend that a small amount of silicone be placed on the outside diameter of the seal before placing it inside the housing. It is also important to make sure that the inner lip of the new seal faces the center section of the shaft to achieve a proper seal. In some cases, the new rear axle seal will require a light tapping around the outer edge with a hammer to properly seat the seal in the axle tube.
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