Inner axle bearing washer seal

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Inner axle bearing washer seal
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Daniel M. Chapasko on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 02:31 pm:

I have bolted my two axle housings together and now have found inner axle bearing washer seals. These are large felt seals. Can these be installed after the housings are sealed and together. First time differential rebuild for me. Can they be installed before the leather seals are installed? Any tips on correct installation or leather seal retainers? I understand they can cut into the axles. Dan Colorado 27 Fordor and 27 Touring.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Neil Kaminar on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 04:31 pm:

Hi Daniel,

I just rebuilt a rear end and the inner seals go in after the two axle housing are bolted together. You have to take the outer bearings and sleeves out, if they are installed, and slip the inner seals over the axles. Putting tape over the keyway and greasing up the axle will help you to keep from damaging the inner seals. It helps to have the axle standing vertical so that gravity does not knock it off center.

The stock axle has the felt seals at the outer end of the axles, and I assume the leather ones are the inner seals. I used modern seals. Look in the ford overhaul book.

Perhaps someone else knows more about the stock seals.

Neil


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 05:02 pm:

Daniel,

Yes, the leather seals can be a problem. Use the modern style neoprene seals, sold by the suppliers, for this application.

Both the leather, or neoprene, seals and the felt seals are for the outer ends as Neil states. So you're o.k. so far.

In your rebuild did you use new bronze thrust bearings?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Daniel M. Chapasko on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 05:07 pm:

Neal, Thank you. I found out that I have two types of inner seals, leather ones and large round felt ones with very small holes in their centers. I was told they are old style (felt) and new style (leather). I was told to use both types at the same time for added leak stoppage. Once again thank you. Dan 27 Fordor - Touring


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 05:12 pm:

Those big felt inner seals were never adequate, even from the factory. I'd find some other use for them and install the new neoprene seals instead. The leather seals are a bad idea too, for the reason you stated and because they're more likely to leak than the modern version. With the neoprene inner seals to keep the oil in, I think the outer felt seals are OK. This shows the inner seal installation Neil described:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfxWPsF4KhQ.

PS I hope you're using the book for this job.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Daniel M. Chapasko on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 05:12 pm:

Jerry, I used new bronze. The old ones were bronze, but seemed to have erosion and pitting on the old bronze ones that I took out.
Thank you. Dan C.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marshall V. Daut on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 11:05 pm:

I am going to be installing those neoprene seals in the 1914 rear end I am working on this weekend and would like to ask if guys with early axle housings of this vintage have had any spacing problems due to the placement of the rivet ring inside the outer portion. I understand Ford moved this internal ring an 1/8" inboard in the early 1920's to allow inner seals to be installed here. There might not be room in these earlier housings for modern seals without grinding either this inner ring (how?) or shaving down the outer portion of the rubber base. Is this a problem I need to address or is there an 1/8" gap between the ring and the bearing sleeve in these older housings for the seals?
'Sorry to slightly hijack this thread, but the question is peripherially related.
Marshall


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 11:14 pm:

Marshall, if you find problems with space you can also grind off the outer sleeve enough for the seal - it's longer than the bearing anyway.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 10:20 am:

As Roger said - Sometimes the outer sleeve needs to be shortened when changing to the new seals.

I used a grinder to remove about 1/8 inch from the inner end of the sleeve so the outer end was flush with the end of the rear housing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 10:36 am:

There is nothing wrong with the heavy inner felt seals. I put them in while the housings are still apart. They are difficult to install, and I use an axle to open up the hole once it is in place. I had them in my '13 touring for over 25 years, and never leaked a drop, but finally they got soaked, and I had to replace them. The original Ford leather seals are ok too, but if you use modern retainers, be sure to bend all the prongs back enough so if the leather wears out they won't eat into the axle.


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