Knuckle rebuild confusion (1 Viewer)

[fordoford]

I posted this in the 80 tech page, but wanted to post here also cause I always get great help from y'all, and if anything is actually wrong and above my skill level, I might need to trade some pizza and beer for a hand, though I hope that's not the case.

I finally got around to rebuilding my front knuckles and seemed to have finally gotten everything apart on the first side. I just pulled the inner axle seal, but now behind it, further into the axle, I see a very similar looking part sitting in the housing. Looks like an axle seal but just seated on the inside, and I can move it around. What is this and what do I do with it?

Another question. This part and it seems the inside of the axle housing has grease somewhat covering everything. I assume this should not be the case and I've only ever heard of oil leaking into the Birf, not grease leaking into the housing (seems crazy to say, but I'm very confused). My Birf also looked fine with no oil leaked in.

I'll attach a couple pictures of the inside seal and what the housing looks like inside, as well as the grease I scooped out with my screwdriver.

Any advice appreciated. Everything was going very smoothly until now

 

[lt1fire]

That's odd

From the picture it looks like another seal. Did you oull it out to confirm? There shouldn't be anything else in there. It looks like whoever was in there last some how knocked it in there. Most likely was seating it and was using the wrong tool. Can't quite figure out why they wouldn't just pull it out though.

Lucky it didn't make it to the diff when the axle shaft was installed.

 

[fordoford]

That's odd

From the picture it looks like another seal. Did you oull it out to confirm? There shouldn't be anything else in there. It looks like whoever was in there last some how knocked it in there. Most likely was seating it and was using the wrong tool. Can't quite figure out why they wouldn't just pull it out though.

Lucky it didn't make it to the diff when the axle shaft was installed.

The problem is I'm not sure if I actually can pull it out. Well, I guess now that I know it's definitely not supposed to be in there I can probably smash it down and pull it out. It’s got a thin metal outside similar to the inner axle seal. I'll give it a go.
Other than that, I did some reading and it looks like I'm gonna have to get all that grease out. Any of yall had this problem and have a good method of removing all the grease?

 

[jfz80]

Are you certain it’s not the inner housing shaft guide? It appears too thick in that first pic but it’s hard to judge. They are known to get knocked loose and can be retrieved by sacrificing it or some have tacked it back but usually gone without.

That one pic does look thicker like an old seal. If that’s the case you should be able to pull it out

Deisel
With a spray wand or a rag and a plunging stick can wash down the housing. Then flush diff of course.

 

[fordoford]

Are you certain it’s not the inner housing shaft guide? It appears too thick in that first pic but it’s hard to judge. They are known to get knocked loose and can be retrieved by sacrificing it or some have tacked it back but usually gone without.

That one pic does look thicker like an old seal. If that’s the case you should be able to pull it out

Deisel
With a spray wand or a rag and a plunging stick can wash down the housing. Then flush diff of course.

Not certain at all actually. It looked like it could be something like that, but I wasn't sure if that was actually a part. I'll have to find what that looks like and check again once it's light. When you say have gone without do you mean they've just gotten rid of it? Or taken it out and replaced with new oem?

And awesome thanks for the tip. I'll have to take apart the other side and then I'll do that!

 

[jfz80]

If it’s the guide people have been known to pull cut and mangle to remove ans not replaced. It helps align shaft into the diff but not necessary. It’s likely not a serviceable part.

Axle index ring

Inner Axle guide ring

Hi all, I don't know what to call this thing, but its a ring that sits past the inner axle seal, and it is press fit into a groove behind the knuckle ball. I believe it centers the axle shaft to prevent damage to the seal as you insert it? Anyway, I dislodged mine fighting to get the axle to...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[fordoford]

If it’s the guide people have been known to pull cut and mangle to remove ans not replaced. It helps align shaft into the diff but not necessary. It’s likely not a serviceable part.

Awesome thank you for the help.

 

[roadstr6]

As Jason said, it is the axle index ring. Try to re-seat it if you can. There is a groove in the housing where it is supposed to sit. If it is too mangled to use, just pull it out and toss it. It is handy to have in place, because it assists with lining up the axle shaft with the third while keeping undue stress off the new seal you will have installed.

As for the grease in your housing...that's perfectly normal, and it happens when the seal wears out. 80W90 gets into the grease in the knuckle and thins it enough to get into the housing. Left unattended, it will eventually get into the diff and clog your diff breather, which causes pressure inside the housing, forcing even more goo to leak out around the knuckles.