Are All Axle Seals the Same on GM 12 Bolt Rears?

[TurboDiverArt]

Are all axle seals the same on GM 12 bolt rears? My stage car as a GM 12 bolt spool and I’m leaking some oil from the drivers side axle and I’m thinking it’s an axle seal. I don’t know what year the rear is or what type of car it came from. I’m sure it’s not brake fluid. I’m thinking it’s probably cheap insurance to just replace the seal.

If they are not all the same, any way to determine where the rear came from and what year?

Thanks for any help!

 

[GNVAIR]

If it is a passenger car Chevrolet 12 bolt (probably from a Chevelle or Monte Carlo originally)that attaches via the stock suspension, then it would originally have had the small 4 bolt flange. Chevrolet trucks and fullsize cars used a larger flange, but I doubt anyone would have changed that.
There was also an Oldsmobile 12 bolt that is different from the Chevrolet in that it had bolt in axles shafts and smaller internals.
You did not specify if the car has c clip eliminators. If it does, you would have to check with the manufacturer. If it is still using c clips to retain the axles, then you can use an axle seal for an 65-72 Chevelle or Monte Carlo with the 12 bolt.

 

[TurboDiverArt]

Originally posted by GNVAIR
If it is a passenger car Chevrolet 12 bolt (probably from a Chevelle or Monte Carlo originally)that attaches via the stock suspension, then it would originally have had the small 4 bolt flange. Chevrolet trucks and fullsize cars used a larger flange, but I doubt anyone would have changed that.
There was also an Oldsmobile 12 bolt that is different from the Chevrolet in that it had bolt in axles shafts and smaller internals.
You did not specify if the car has c clip eliminators. If it does, you would have to check with the manufacturer. If it is still using c clips to retain the axles, then you can use an axle seal for an 65-72 Chevelle or Monte Carlo with the 12 bolt.

I need to look closer. I certainly don’t believe it has C-Clips. I thought on a GM 12 bolt that the axles were held in using 2 small brackets on the outer housing, behind the brake drums in the mess that is the GM drum braking setup… J I’d have to look at the 12 bolt in the GN and compare it to the one in my Camaro. I didn’t know a 12 bolt used a C-Clip the way the 10 bolt GN rear did. I certainly could be wrong but for some reason I thought this.

 

[GNVAIR]

All passenger car Chevrolet 12 bolts used c clips from the factory.
If it is a Chevrolet 12 bolt and doesnt have c clips, then someone has changed the flanges to accept pressed on Ford 9" style bearings.

 

[TurboDiverArt]

Originally posted by GNVAIR
All passenger car Chevrolet 12 bolts used c clips from the factory.
If it is a Chevrolet 12 bolt and doesnt have c clips, then someone has changed the flanges to accept pressed on Ford 9" style bearings.

Thanks for the info. I'll check into it!