inner axle seals

[searcher]

i have an 89 sj62 inner axle seal gone 3 times, the shaft looks fine, I cant figure out why its leaking. Any ideas? I moved it 20feet and it went again after I had just replaced it. The seal looks like it is perfect.

Searcher

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Did you center the axle shaft in the housing? You gotta have the axle shaft centered to have the seal function properly. You center it by having more or less spacers on the top or bottom trunion bearing caps.

 

[soggy60]

Center the kuckle by adding / subtracting shims on bottom trunion cap,
shims on upper set knuckle bearing preload.

The knuckle would have to be way off to ruin a seal in 20 feet of movement . . .that's like 4 or 5 revolutions of a tire.

R U putting seal in correctly ( well seated in seal area, pocket for seal clean of prior seal, etc?), even wrong side out shouldn't cause 'immediate' failure. Once seal is set, reach in with a finger & try to gently remove....should not come out easily (with one finger)....if it does, either seal is wrong or not set properly.

Using correct seal ? It might fit in the axle housing (seal pocket) but be too big an ID to seal on axle shaft ? slide seal over axle shaft to check for fit....

Oh, is the 'leaker' on driver's side (long axle side)? you could be dislodging seal as you attempt , , to get axle into diff....

Lastly, does long part of axle fit snugly in birf joint to short side of axle ? ( is one half way out of alignment with other half....broken birf ball, rusted , jambed off center)

I'm presuming axle is not bent....

Good luck

Pete

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Center the kuckle by adding / subtracting shims on bottom trunion cap,
shims on upper set knuckle bearing preload.

Good clarification, thanks

 

[NocalFJ60]

Could try some Marlin inner axle seals but sounds like you got another problem if the OEM ones are leaking that quickly. Have you took some calipers and measured your axle diameter where it seals and then compare it to the seal diameter?

 

[searcher]

Thanks all for geting back to me I have not been out to look at it today. Im going to see if I can find another shaft and a different seal..

 

[weak-link]

start with a thick stock shim on the bottom and work it from there is what I've always been told.

also use Marlin's eco seals, they give you alot more room for error

 

[lehiguy]

Times 1000 on the Marlin seals. The stockers were leak-o-matics on my rig, the Marlins don't leak at all. One thing to watch is the the axle shaft's position in the seal itself. I do not use a clip inside the Birfield, I put a small tack weld on the inner splines of the shaft which prevent it from going into the diff too far. I determined the depth by two things; the witness marks on the shaft made by the contect from the side gears, and the shoulder of the sealing area where it goes into the inner axle seal. I made sure it stopped just short of the shoulder passing into the seal and creating the mother of all leaks.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Times 1000 on the Marlin seals. The stockers were leak-o-matics on my rig, the Marlins don't leak at all. One thing to watch is the the axle shaft's position in the seal itself. I do not use a clip inside the Birfield, I put a small tack weld on the inner splines of the shaft which prevent it from going into the diff too far. I determined the depth by two things; the witness marks on the shaft made by the contect from the side gears, and the shoulder of the sealing area where it goes into the inner axle seal. I made sure it stopped just short of the shoulder passing into the seal and creating the mother of all leaks.

Martack, right? Why not use the clip?

Oh, and use the Marlin seals.

 

[searcher]

Hi all from what I can tell, my shaft is worn. I can not find another one that is cheap I dont have 1300 for a new one... I might sleeve the shaft to get me by for now..

Marlin seals - where can I get them at?

searcher

 

[weak-link]

HD Inner Axle Seal, Hilux | Marlin Crawler, Inc.

 

[D'Animal]

This may be a silly question but you are filling the birfield/knuckles houding with Moly grease and not 90 weigh oil, right?

The fill plug on the front of the knuckle confuses some people.

 

[Godwin]

What condition are the knuckle bearings?

 

[searcher]

Im filling the birfield/knuckles houding with grease. I looked at the barrings they look good I took it apart... wating for the snap ring to come in now..

Seracher