Wheel Bearing Oil Seal

[Cascade Cruiser]

I've decided to swallow my pride for the sake of my cruiser.....

I've committed a cardinal sin when it comes to taking things apart....I'm not sure exactly how to put them back together!! My weekend knuckle job (first time for me) was extended slightly as I've been sourcing new brake rotors, but today I decided against putting on new rotors and decided to finish the job. Unfortunately I hit a brick wall when I went to press in the new oil seal (the big one next to the inner wheel bearing) and I couldn't remember which way it goes back in!! Do you press it in with the flat end down or the flanged end down (by down I mean the side that's going to contact the bearing)?? Thanks for the help, I know this will be an easy one for many of you. Helpful hints for pressing the thing in there would be appreciated as well, I don't have a hydraulic press and the tolerance seems much tighter than the small inner seal. I don't think a block of wood is going to cut it. Thanks for the advice, I hope you all can forgive me for my careless error!

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The flat darker side goes "up", ie toward you while driving it in. I get it started and drive it in with my brass drift, tapping around the outer rim of the seal. It's tight, but fits just fine. I could never get a block of wood to work as it doesn't concentrate the force enough especially when starting it into the bore. Are you sure you don't want to replace the rotors? Now is the time.

 

[cruiserdan]

Install the seal with the "solid" side facing toward the axle housing. It should have a golden color on the exposed side and a silver color on the side that faces the bearing (this assumes that you are using OEM seals #90311-62001). As far as seating the seal goes, if you do not have the proper installer you can gently tap the seal in place with a hammer. Work your way around the paremeter, tapping as you go. tap the seal in until the outer edge is flush with the outer hub lip. Do be sure not to strike the seal lip, only the metal base.

D-

 

[jesterb]

When I installed my seals, one went in fine with the hammer and drift method. I tapped and tapped on the other with no luck. Went and got a block of wood, went in first shot.

 

[cahilc]

Went and got ... wood, went in first shot.

Gotta *love* it. Every thing works better with *wood*.

:+)

Cahil

 

[jesterb]

Gotta *love* it. Every thing works better with *wood*.

:+)

Cahil

Yep

 

[Cascade Cruiser]

Thanks for the replies. I'll give it another shot tonight, sounds like it just takes a little persuasion to get that seal in there.

Are you sure you don't want to replace the rotors? Now is the time.

I decided against new rotors/pads because the cruiser doesn't really get driven that often while I'm away at school. And the wheel studs didn't want to budge so it would have been a pain in the arse to get the rotors off. Now that I've been in the front end and know my way around, it doesn't seem like that big of a deal to pull the hub when I do a brake job in the future.