front wheel bearings

[nypdusmc]

The other day I noticed axle oil on the front passenger side brake.

I am pretty sure I have a dana 44 axle. I for sure have a 9" in the rear, 1970 org. 302 bronco.

Does this require an outer wheel bearing or an inner wheel bearing or both to fix this?

I checked the front diff. and it was low. i added some Lucas oil and took it for a ride. It sat in my driveway about 2 hours. I then noticed about a 3 foot by 3 inch oil slick coming from the end of the axle down the driveway. I parked it in the garage and put a pan under the brake.

Thanks

 

[Bully Bob]

Go USMC...!..,

You likely have a D-30 (D-44 Was '72 on)

There's two seals up, inside the axle tube. (inner & outer axle housing seals)

If your leak is, in fact, axle oil...it will come out the axle tube at the U-joint that's visable behind the brake backing plate.

---"I noticed axle oil on the front passenger side brake."---

By "brake" do you mean the actual brake shoes.....or the back side of the backing plate..?

Maybe the motor-pool can help....

If you're going to do 1 side..might as well do both sides while it's apart., but I'm guessing the axle has to come out.,

& more than likely the diff. will have to be removed.

Parts are cheap.., labor isn't, unless you do it yourself.

Maybe $50-75 in seals & maybe a bearing or two......& +-8 to 12 hours if you've never done this B/4.

(3 banana job..!) ^_^ /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

The wheel bearings are "greased" ...they don't leak but will "sweat" at times., (with worn seals).

Those bearings may be re-usable.

Lastly.,

This is not unusual...some folks re-build when these leaks occur.., some swap-in a complete re-built front axle...or even swap to a D-44.

 

[nypdusmc]

Go USMC...!..,You likely have a D-30 (D-44 Was '71 on)

There's two seals up, inside the axle tube. (inner & outer axle housing seals)

If your leak is, in fact, axle oil...it will come out the axle tube at the U-joint that's visable behind the brake backing plate.

---"I noticed axle oil on the front passenger side brake."---

By "brake" do you mean the actual brake shoes.....or the back side of the backing plate..?

Maybe the motor-pool can help....

If you're going to do 1 side..might as well do both sides while it's apart., but I'm guessing the axle has to come out.,

& more than likely the diff. will have to be removed.

Parts are cheap.., labor isn't, unless you do it yourself.

Maybe $50-75 in seals & maybe a bearing or two......& +-8 to 12 hours if you've never done this B/4.

(3 banana job..!) ^_^ /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

The wheel bearings are "greased" ...they don't leak but will "sweat" at times., (with worn seals).

Those bearings may be re-usable.

Lastly.,

This is not unusual...some folks re-build when these leaks occur.., some swap-in a complete re-built front axle...or even swap to a D-44.

 

[nypdusmc]

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking I should replace the bearings and races while I am in there. I called Bronco graveyard and the guy just told me to do the seals.

Should I do any other parts, Broncograveyard has a rebuild kit for $85 bucks......Should I just get this too?

 

[Bully Bob]

First., you need to know., is it a D-30 --or-- a D-44.?

----don't know your mech. background, time frame., or budget---

Wouldn't hurt to have a dig. camera., a place to lay out hub parts in order., & a manual.

(or you can copy some pert. pages from the library)

The $85 kit is OK but doesn't have all you need.., & a few you don't really need.

If it were me., I would disassemble the pass. side., lay-out all the parts., clean & inspect, i.e. determine what needs replacing.

THE REASON....there's a good chance the inner axle seal is OK...if that's the case., the diff. does not have to come out.

Depending on the "condition" of these parts...a decision can be made as to whether or not to remove the dr. side.

(& maybe the diff.) Then order the parts.

Also at this point., the U-joint., spindle bearing & seal & king-pins should be inspected., tested &/or replaced.

Good lighting (or better yet, a bore-scope) can allow you to look up inside the axle tube & insp. the inner axle seal.

THE BAD NEWS....with all that oil...I'm guessing both seals (inner & outer) are bad. There's an axle guide in there as well..it allows the axle to slide thru W/O damaging the inner seal..., & line up with the diff..

HTH

Bob