marlin crawler axle oil seals

bigneily · 09-04-08, 04:28 PM

hello out there to everyone , hunting season is almost here and i've put off servicing my front diff long enuff. my question is if i order marlins hd axle seals is it imperative that i still align the knuckles with the sst tool or can i get away with out it

.. i don't have one and do not know anyone around my area that might have one to borrow, did i mention that i am mathematically challenged

... i did the diff years ago and never did bearing preload or kept track how the shims went or how many etc

, just sorta banged it together and drove it, crappy handling and all

let me know what you all think thanx...

Fast Eddy · 09-04-08, 04:47 PM

I'm not going to answer your question. Someone with more experience that I will chime in.

I have Marlin seals and I put mine together without the alignment tool. Seems fine.

1973Guppie · 09-04-08, 04:50 PM

I have heard that they have enough play where you don't need the tool, but I am no expert, so hopefully somebody else will chime in here, poser??

bigneily · 09-04-08, 04:56 PM

i've read a bunch of old posts and someone stated that one thick shim and one thin on the top and bottom bearings will put me very close , then just set the proper preload hopefully end up with better handling and no more leaky seals thanx guys

hicruise55 · 09-04-08, 05:18 PM

I have rebuilt 3- all with Marlins seals, just put the shims back how I found them? Cant speak for the other 2 but my 55 drives like a Cadillac... just much more noisy

Joe Egolf · 09-04-08, 05:55 PM

2x with Hicruise55, My[Marlin] seals and birfs are great and the cruiser goes down the road straight.put the old shims back as they came out -no problems

bigneily · 09-04-08, 06:23 PM

problem is tho i am pretty sure my current shims are not correct anyhow

Fast Eddy · 09-04-08, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigneily

problem is tho i am pretty sure my current shims are not correct anyhow

With a shim kit and lots of trial and error, you should be able to get it pretty close. That's a lot of nuts, torquings and banging out the cone washers though. It might work out the same by torquing down two nuts on the arms and bottom plates.

Poser is likely the man with the answer. Wait for it.

bigneily · 09-04-08, 07:43 PM

thanx eddy for the reply i will wait and see what poser says. i think i can get the proper bearing preload ,its just centering the knuckle bearing case so that i'll have no axle oil seal leaks i think will be the tough part without the special service tool (sst) .hoping to get away with it by using marlins hd seals.

Mad Chemist · 09-04-08, 09:44 PM

I did it without the SST when I went SOA with mintruck knuckles. I checked the preload and it was within spec.

FJROME · 09-04-08, 10:28 PM

In testing the new seals Marlin demonstrated that the seal is capable of .050 deflection before the oil seal is broken -----------Use equal shims on top and bottom and it will be fine

If you can afford Marlins seals, You can afford a fish scale.

pbgbottle · 09-05-08, 10:41 AM

just ordered my marlin seals two days ago ,i too am doing the minitruck knuckle upgrade and 4x4 labs high steer . I hope my knuckles are close also i have no sst. .see what happens i will keep my fingers crossed. preload is easy.
it's just hoping it is centered on the housing.

will let ya no if mine leak. i ordered 4 seals .2 for spares . it's a hassle getting these things sent to Canada.

caz · 09-05-08, 05:24 PM

My theory is that it is fine to put them back as you found them if you are just rebuilding the knuckle. Minus the SST, you can still check the preload and make minor adjustments.

When you are swapping on different knuckles (IE Minitruck), then I think it is more important. The one side on mine was crazy! 0.025" on the top and 0.060" on the bottom.

Andy Zooks Home Page - Life, Toyota 4x4s and more - Using the Toyota front axle SST

bigneily · 09-05-08, 08:00 PM

well ordered the marlin seals today anyhow

gonna just wing it with equal shims top and bottom with proper preload specs

and hopefullt it will all jive

.... thanx to all for there replys

BrianSanDiego · 09-05-08, 08:20 PM

Hey, when you guys say rebuild the knuckles does that mean replacing the knuckle bearings and races too? or just all the seals?

I'm going to need to replace my axle seals soon, and if I can put in new bearings too, without any SST, that would be good.

Also, has anyone disassembled the knuckles from the back (that is just pulling the knuckle bearings) without breaking down the brakes and wheel bearing portion of the knuckle?

Thanks,
B.

cruiser_guy · 09-05-08, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigneily

i don't have one and do not know anyone around my area that might have one to borrow, did i mention that i am mathematically challenged

...

If I was home you could borrow mine!! I won't be home till next June though!!

bigneily · 09-05-08, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

If I was home you could borrow mine!! I won't be home till next June though!!

that is too bad nice to know their is a fellow cruiser enthusiast here anyhow.. be sure and look me up when you get back home anyway

andrewfarmer · 09-05-08, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianSanDiego

.

Also, has anyone disassembled the knuckles from the back (that is just pulling the knuckle bearings) without breaking down the brakes and wheel bearing portion of the knuckle?

Thanks,
B.

I always do it this way - less mess and much quicker

mikealeus · 09-06-08, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caz

My theory is that it is fine to put them back as you found them if you are just rebuilding the knuckle. Minus the SST, you can still check the preload and make minor adjustments.

When you are swapping on different knuckles (IE Minitruck), then I think it is more important. The one side on mine was crazy! 0.025" on the top and 0.060" on the bottom.

Andy Zooks Home Page - Life, Toyota 4x4s and more - Using the Toyota front axle SST

X2 what he said. I did mine and no problemo.