Front Diff Axle Seals (1 Viewer)

[Tentsontop]

I'm going through my front diff right now and putting new bushings and seals in. When you install the axle seals I've read that they should be 5.5mm in. My question is when you have a straight edge over the the edge of the axle tube and diff should the inner lips of the seals touch it or be just above/below? I don't have anything I can use to measure 5.5 mm. I have the FSM and it has nothing on it, but the illustration looks like the inner lips should be flush with the outside of the housing. I really don't want these to leak like they were. I thought the old ones would be trashed, but when I dropped the diff and looked at them they were in great shape. I'm assuming they were installed too deep.

 

[TheForger]

I'm going through my front diff right now and putting new bushings and seals in. When you install the axle seals I've read that they should be 5.5mm in. My question is when you have a straight edge over the the edge of the axle tube and diff should the inner lips of the seals touch it or be just above/below? I don't have anything I can use to measure 5.5 mm. I have the FSM and it has nothing on it, but the illustration looks like the inner lips should be flush with the outside of the housing. I really don't want these to leak like they were. I thought the old ones would be trashed, but when I dropped the diff and looked at them they were in great shape. I'm assuming they were installed too deep.

The inner lips of the seal should be proud of the axle tube. I’d say the outer lips are ever so slightly recessed. This is how I set mine up and I’ve had no issues

 

[Tentsontop]

Thanks. I'm thinking that's the way to go. I saw a post from 2001LC where he says he puts them .5mm out, but not sure if that is outside of the tube/diff like you have or just 5mm in rather than 5.5mm.

 

[abuck99]

Post #33

Front Drive Shaft / Differential leak; Oil Seal & dust cover replacement

@Ironman2011 @Julian Stead or anyone else, Any advice to remove diff tube oil seal? I might try to tear it out with channel locks. I know I’ll mangle it, which is fine, but I don’t want to damage anything worth keeping. Thanks OOOPS ... forgot ... I second what @abuck99 said about being...

forum.ih8mud.com

Two posts further in that thread ( #35 ) shows a picture of the target /reference depth of the “face” of the seal in relationship to the race. The outer edge of the seal is “fractionally” above the edge of the race. This is for seals anywhere on your truck- cams, crank, axles etc.

As I said before in your other thread- in too far will leak, out too far it will leak. Also if out too far it has the chance of shifting/popping outward under a load or tension.