Replacing seal in a 9" Ford

[saltshaker]

I need to replace a axle seal in a 9" ford as well as replacing a stud in the center section. The steps to do this would be:
1)remove brakes
2) pull axels
3) pull center section and drain oil
4) replace stud
Now when putting it back together is the seal pressed in? Do you put a sealer around it?? Not sure about this part!
Jon

[Seagull81]

I don't use any sealer. If you don't have a seal installation tool, use a block of wood and hammer to drive it in square and flat. Be sure to put oil or grease on the rubber part of the seal and be careful putting the axle back thru the seal so as not to ding it and cause a leak.

[YerDugliness]

I have a leaking Ford 9" differential....I can't tell where the leak is coming from, it just needs differential lube with unusual frequency. I can tell that when the pumpkin was last installed they used silicone rather than a gasket, but the leak seems to drip off the lowest part of the live axle assembly, the lower bracket for the parallel 4-bar rear suspension.

It only leaks off the driver's side, though....so, I'd say that limits the "leak" to the axle bearings on the driver's side.

Does anyone else agree? I can't find a trail of oil/lube on the differential tubing anywhere, in fact I thought for a while that perhaps they burned a hole in the housing when they welded on the brackets for the 4-bar suspension.

Any other ideas? I'm interested in doing the work for myself, but if not I'd like to know what might be wrong so when I take it to a mechanic I can discuss the issue intelligently.

Thanks! Hoping others will chime in on this thread!

Cheers, Dugly

[saltshaker]

I was able to find mine because the wheel and back plate from the brakes had oil on them.
Jon

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by saltshaker

I was able to find mine because the wheel and back plate from the brakes had oil on them.
Jon

I'll check closer today, it is up on jack-stands and I can get in there with a good light.

However, it has been sitting in the garage for 2 years now....might not be evident.

My 9" has Wilwood disc brakes, so not sure if there's a backing plate or not.

The wheel has no staining on it....at least, not that I remember, but the wheel is off the driver's side and so I can check better.

I just re-bushed the parallel 4-bar suspension system, getting ready to re-install the parking brake today (hoping there is enough cable to reach the lever ).

Cheers, Dugly