Ford 3000 rear axle seal

[cotemart]

Hi everybody. I'm not posting often but I look at the forum when I need good advice from this great resource. I am not an experienced mechanic, but I already changed my pto seal, fixed some littles details on the lift cylinder (I am gonna have to come back on this one), and I am used to look at my service book and parts lists... )

Right now I have a fairly small leak in the right brake, so few that you have to take the drum out to see that the hub is a bit wet. But just enough to loose braking power from that wheel. So I have a few questions for you guys.

First, I am assuming that changing the inner seal would fix it since the outer seal is to keep dirt from the bearing housing. I am right or do you think I have to get in the bigger job of changing the outer seal

If so, how hard is it to get the axle out. I know about the 9 or so bolts, but is there also a clip I have to reach inside the housing (I refer to the part number 39 on the parts figure)? And is the "differential-lock cluth parts" are going to fall if I pull the axle and do I have to engage it before pulling the axle out (like you have to do with the pto clutch)?

Will I see some difficulties to align everything when I get it back in?

So there are my questions. If it apears to be more difficult than I think, I'll probably just clean the brake once in a while. I already tried with gasoline without good results, next time I'll try to torch or boil the shoes...

So, thanks in advance for any answers or comments. Just hope I did my lessons by reading all the topics and that thoses questions were not covered before.

 

[whodat526]

i always just pull the axle out the housing and replace the inner seal since oil shouldn't get past it to get to the outer seal the only time i have replaced the outer seal is if the bearing was bad and it is a good to replace the bearing and outer seal u will need a press and it should either have a breakable colar or a nut holding the bearing in if it has the colar u will have to drill it and slit it out the press the bearing out if has the nut u just unscrew it and then press the bearing out now to get the colar back in u must heat it up real good then drop it over the axle while it is still hot and drive it on there it is a job

 

[Jbrink64]

Just remove the outer bearing retainer nuts. Slide the axle shaft, bearing retainer, brake backing plate and brake shaft out as an assembly.
Correct that the inner seal is for the oil, the outer seal retains the bearing grease. The outer bearing is grease packed, it's probably been washed out by the oil.
Reassembly is straight forward, keep in mind there are shims between the bearing retainers and axle housings to set the bearing clearance.

 

[cotemart]

Thanks a lot.

I'll try it on my next trip on the woodlot.

Do I just repack the bearing with ordinary grease?

 

[Jbrink64]

Thanks a lot.

I'll try it on my next trip on the woodlot.

Do I just repack the bearing with ordinary grease?

Wheel bearing grease does fine

 

[cotemart]

Tanks for you advices. It went as you said, just had to pull the axle out and it went right back in without any problem.

I had to reline the brake shoes, I put a bit too much heat on it and the lining fell off ... And now it has good brakes.