Inner axle seal seat scored - solutions? (1 Viewer)

[ptmacp]

I must have scored the inner axle seal seat on removing the old one cause on installing the new OEM one it immediately deformed. Arrrrggh.

I can feel some abbrasions on the seat at the 8 o'clock position, which is where the new seal deformed. Can I rub it with emery cloth or do I need a new axle tube? Please don't tell me I need a new axle tube, if you can help it.

Thanks

Pete in Pegram

 

[Romer]

emery cloth will be fine.

I place the seal over the axel and then take something big that is the same width like a mallet head and set the mallet head against the seal and hit the other end of the mallet head with a hammer. I did this after deforming the first one I put on.

 

[Heffenoche]

As Romer said the emory cloth wil work fine, I had to do that to mine too. I had a seal drive tool that I thnk saved me from crushing my seals when I put them in.

 

[ptmacp]

As Romer said the emory cloth wil work fine, I had to do that to mine too. I had a seal drive tool that I thnk saved me from crushing my seals when I put them in.

Thanks all. Part that kills me is that I was using a scrap piece of pipe that is EXACTLY the perfect inner and outer diameter for the face of the seal. Everything looked perfect...

Pete in Pegram

 

[Trunk Monkey]

If you can, get a seal driver kit from Autozone tool rental. Holy crap those are worth their weight in gold.

 

[ptmacp]

If you can, get a seal driver kit from Autozone tool rental. Holy crap those are worth their weight in gold.

Noted. Thanks again for all the intellectual and moral support.

 

[Rich]

If you use any kind of abrasive have a plan to both keep the grit out of the diff and to be able to clean it out of the axle tube.

 

[ptmacp]

If you use any kind of abrasive have a plan to both keep the grit out of the diff and to be able to clean it out of the axle tube.

Would you stuff something down the tube to act as a dam? A diaphram of sorts?

Pete in Pegram

 

[IdahoDoug]

Sorry for the visual, but yeah, an oil soaked rag wadded past the seal area to block the opening, and a string attached so there's no chance of losing it into the housing. Works for Playtex....

DougM

Just don't use a red rag, OK?!!