Rear hub oil seal.

[blastcleaner]

I replaced one rear hub seal and bearing 20 years ago but did not have the benefit of these pages and did not realise there was an inner axle casing hub seal. Older and wiser now !

If that axle casing seal is not working well it stands to reason the hub seal works overtime to cope. Mine leaks slightly, just enough to get on the brake shoes and reduce the braking efficiency.

So is it worth changing the hub seal - with all that entails - when it is probably the inner seal at fault.

If taking it all to bits is the answer, are there any shortcuts to the job? I dont happen to have the hub extraction tool under the bench, but I bet someone has a quick solution.

Thanks,

James

[commander]

This has come up on the board before. Consensus is that all the inner seals leaked eventually , which provides needed lubrication to the bearing. Later model tractors didn't bother with the inner seal.

[GERRY]

hi blastcleaner, the way i done mine after drilling an chiseling off collar an as i had no acess to a press, i got three bolts and welded these to a plate, i put the halfshaft on ablock of wood to save the splines ,and useing a heavy hammer i hammered it off .this is not text book but needs must . it done the job for me , the bearning was ok and i was able to use it again, hope this is some help. GERRY

[blastcleaner]

Thanks Jack and Gerry.
Jack confirms that if it leaks it needs fixing regardless of the inner seal and Gerry, that sounds like it will do the job for me too.

I was thinking of using some long studding with a plate on the end of the half shaft if it wont knock off.

[commander]

I may have been too brief in my reply.

I would recommend fixing the outer seal to keep the brakes dry.

I wouldn't bother replacing the inner seal, unless the bearing is bad and you have to pull the assembly apart anyway. Let it leak, the oil just goes to the bearing and keeps it lubricated.

Cheers