1964 Axle Seal Replacement

[RedDropTop]

Can the axle seal on a 1964 be replaced without removing the bearing & retainer?
I want to have what I need on hand.
Thanks!

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[highwaymanrte66]

Can the axle seal on a 1964 be replaced without removing the bearing & retainer?
I want to have what I need on hand.
Thanks!

from what I remember 40 years ago you have to either cut the bearing off or have a machine shop pull it and press a new one on the axle to get to the seal

 

[RedDropTop]

Before I get roasted, my manual is on my computer and is not available to me for a few days.

 

[Critterpainer]

From my feeble memory, the rear axle bearing is a sealed bearing. The rear axle retainer is just that, not a seal.

 

[topfuel217]

The axle bearing is a sealed unit and there is a seal between it and the differential. Remove wheel and brake drum. Remove 4 bolts holding axle and backing plate for brakes. Axle will come out through the backing plate. Seal is inside axle housing. May have to use a slide hammer to get axle out. Hope this helps

 

[highwaymanrte66]

if you need a repair manual Rock Auto has them https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=11042224&cc=1334281&pt=10335&jsn=368

 

[doug7740]

The axle bearing is a sealed unit and there is a seal between it and the differential. Remove wheel and brake drum. Remove 4 bolts holding axle and backing plate for brakes. Axle will come out through the backing plate. Seal is inside axle housing. May have to use a slide hammer to get axle out. Hope this helps

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[RedDropTop]

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doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

Perfect! I was hoping I wasn't going to have to cut off the bearing retainer and bearing. I'll be able to knock this out easily.

 

[RedDropTop]

View attachment 21890

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doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

Thanks again. Knocked it out tonight. Child’s play compared to those that require the removal of the bearing and retainer.

 

[Ricky R]

Hope it's OK that I resurrect this old thread. I am new member with the same issue, but my Bird is a 61. Does anyone know if it's the same procedure here to remove the rear axle seal? Also, topfuel's first photo above seems to show the axle seal just sitting at the outer end of the axle housing after the shaft was pulled out. Does that mean it came along with the shaft when it was pulled out? For putting a new one one, do I just put it over the inside end of the shaft and slide the whole thing back in?

 

[Ricky R]

Update: I went through my manual again and it's not very clear on this process, so I decided to find out for myself. Removed the four nuts on the outer flange, gave the axle a tug and it came out easily. Same for the worn out seal. New one ordered. At the same time I noticed that the gasket inside the flange was totally missing. I'm guessing someone had the axle out at some point and just forgot it. So I ordered that too. On the bright side, the missing gasket is what told me that differential fluid was getting past the axle seal, because that's where it was leaking from.