1962 front axle seals leaking, need help

[cjgoode]

I have looked at all the posts I could find. I believe the front axle is 1962, but definitely pre 1969 since they have 8mm flange holes.

Pulled the front passenger brake drum off and it is coated in very thick heavy grease. When I bought this there was no signs of anything leaking on the tires, rims or outside the drum. I can see it leaked at the back of the hub but in front of the brake pads where the front hub would spin.

From reading I think I need to replace the inner and outer seal. Are they the same seal or are they different. I do not need to rebuild anything. Jacked up the wheel spins freely smoothly and has 0 play at all. So it all seams real tight.

Do I just need to buy the inner and outer seals. How hard is to to replace them, is it the same for other years. Are the seals the same from 58 to 75 like SOR says. I read marlin has good seals but they show the inner seal but did not find an outer seal and it lists the inner for 1969 to 1980 and I know these are pre 69.

Need some clarification on what I need to buy where to buy and how hard is it. I want to do the least amount possible both in effort and $$$$. This is not nearly road ready so if I pull it and see the bearings are bad I will deal with that, but I think they all good.

PS If anyone wants to send me the money to upgrade the axles to disc brakes I will entertain the idea, other wise please do not recommend it. Our dog is going through chemo and all my budget I had for the rebuild is drying up fast, but seals look like they will be under $30 total, and I can clean the brake shoes and replace them before I actually put it on the road.

 

[Poser]

You will have a wheel bearing seal that needs to be replaced.

Your 1962 ball and claw axle does not have an inner axle seal, and you cannot install the 90311-33085 or the Marlin Crawler Eco-Seal.


I understand that you are trying to “build” this beyond low budget, but to assume that knuckle bearings, wheel bearings or any other operation critical component that could be closing in on 50 years old are roadworthy is one hell of a leap of faith.

The other issue you are eventually going to run into is at what point do you stop throwing good money at old junk? Unless you are building a 100-point museum piece that will rarely, if ever, see the road, I cannot with sound conscience suggest that you spend a penny fixing anything on that front axle or brake system.

Life is full of decisions. It would appear that you have a lot of things on your plate. Perhaps re-evaluating the importance of throwing money at an old truck is something you should investigate.

 

[cjgoode]

Is the wheel bearing seal still available if so where can I get one. I do not want to replace parts that do not need to be, but trust me I will replace anything I think makes it unreliable or unsafe, if the axle fails it will be replaced, I do not think this justifies throwing the axles away just yet.

 

[fhawk5]

Previous to 1969 the seals were impregnated bronze. The bronze had grooves so oill could bet between the shaft and the seal. I just did a 1965 and what I did pull the axle shaft , (it was so old from sitting the axle shaft AND bushing came out). I then bought two from SOR and cleaned and reinstalled the new bushings. I created a device to put them in. I put the bronze bushings into the freezer and lubed them and put them in with my tool. I then had to HONE them so the shaft would be a nice fit. I used an old brake cylinder hone. A few bucks.
The later axles improved and that is why 1969 seems to be where everything starts. Also, Marlin Crawler seals for those years (1969 >) are SUPERIOR to anything I have ever seen . They are a wonderful outfit and I cannot say enough good about them. They are +++++++.

 

[cjgoode]

fhawk5 do you have any pictures so I can see what you are talking about. I assume you bought the axles from sor, or just the bushings?

 

[Poser]

Is the wheel bearing seal still available if so where can I get one.

NAPA or any other parts house worth their salt.

Tell them you have a 1974 Land Cruiser and need a front wheel bearing seal.

 

[cjgoode]

1970 axles? Are they maintainable

If you saw my other post, oil leaking out of my 1962 front axle. Seems like the brass bushing to seal them is no longer available, or I cannot find it.

Well found some 1970 front and rear axles with drums on CL. I know I would prefer some 1976 or higher with discs, but fj40 parts are few and far between down here in the south east.

Are the 70 axles worth looking at? He wants $250 for the pair but I was thinking of offering $100 if he still has them but need feedback.

 

[cjgoode]

I will pull the hub off on Sunday and see what I got and check with napa. Did a new post for feedback on some 1970 axles I could possibly go and look at.

 

[Poser]

Save your money and your time.

 

[IDave]

If you saw my other post, oil leaking out of my 1962 front axle. Seems like the brass bushing to seal them is no longer available, or I cannot find it..

Keep looking. SOR lists them as available on their web site tonight.

Specter Off-Road Land Cruiser Parts - Search On 080-70

I honed mine with a brake hone when I did them, but it is pretty hard not to oval them just a little. What you really need is a proper sized reamer. You would need the same thing to do the spindle bushings if you were to do those, but they are NOT available. I have used a smaller reamer for the rocker arm bushings.

 

[bikersmurf]

Disc brake front ends aren't worth much. Most people are giving them away. I only paid $100 for my complete 40 disc front end.

One other note, wheel bearings are different for disc vs drum.

 

[cjgoode]

well ordered a front wheel bearing seal for a 74, $4 and change and some work will be worth a try. The 1970 axles were welded so not worth even looking at. On CL the next set of post 1968 axles I can find are 600 miles away, and 1 set of 67 axles between me and those. Slim pickings here, and I watch for parts all the time.