OOoohh what fun!!
Last week, I put new brake shoes, wheel cylinders, and brake hardware on the rear. In the process I found out that my driver's side axle seal was leaking (not the wehee cylinder as suspected). I replaced the axle seal. Got the new tires on & thought I had it made. Go out to the garage a couple days later and.....SAME axle seal leaking.
I had bought two axle seals at the parts store (both the same part#), but one was made in Mexico and one in Taiwan. I had originally intended to replace BOTH, but decided not to do the passenger side since it wasn't leaking. I put the Taiwan seal in. It fit VERY tight, but went in evenly all the way around.
The reason I put the Taiwan seal in was because I noticed it had a circular spring on the inside of the seal, just like the one I pulled from the axle housing. The Mexico one did not.
I do remember noting when I pulled the axle that there was an EVER SO SLIGHT, tiny-very-narrow groove on the axle where the rubber seal rode on it. I am 100% positive that there was no groove on the axle where it met the bearing - it was very shiny & smooth.
I also remember when pounding the new seal in, that the red paint that was on the outside of the seal (the part that meets the axle housing) was flaking off. I just scraped it off with my fingernail, and went on about my business.
Please help out a dummy - Any thoughts? Is it possible that the axle housing is damaged on the inside where the seal goes? SHould I try the other (Mexico) seal without the circular spring inside of it?
The car's up on stands right now until I get this gear oil leak figured out because I don't want to throw gear oil all over my new shoes and tire. The oild seems to be coming from between the axle housing and the seal, rather than from between the axle and the rubber sealing surface.
Last week, I put new brake shoes, wheel cylinders, and brake hardware on the rear. In the process I found out that my driver's side axle seal was leaking (not the wehee cylinder as suspected). I replaced the axle seal. Got the new tires on & thought I had it made. Go out to the garage a couple days later and.....SAME axle seal leaking.
I had bought two axle seals at the parts store (both the same part#), but one was made in Mexico and one in Taiwan. I had originally intended to replace BOTH, but decided not to do the passenger side since it wasn't leaking. I put the Taiwan seal in. It fit VERY tight, but went in evenly all the way around.
The reason I put the Taiwan seal in was because I noticed it had a circular spring on the inside of the seal, just like the one I pulled from the axle housing. The Mexico one did not.
I do remember noting when I pulled the axle that there was an EVER SO SLIGHT, tiny-very-narrow groove on the axle where the rubber seal rode on it. I am 100% positive that there was no groove on the axle where it met the bearing - it was very shiny & smooth.
I also remember when pounding the new seal in, that the red paint that was on the outside of the seal (the part that meets the axle housing) was flaking off. I just scraped it off with my fingernail, and went on about my business.
Please help out a dummy - Any thoughts? Is it possible that the axle housing is damaged on the inside where the seal goes? SHould I try the other (Mexico) seal without the circular spring inside of it?
The car's up on stands right now until I get this gear oil leak figured out because I don't want to throw gear oil all over my new shoes and tire. The oild seems to be coming from between the axle housing and the seal, rather than from between the axle and the rubber sealing surface.