Rear Axle leak--AGAIN

cobrabuilderI · #1 (**permalink**) 12-13-2004, 04:32 PM

WElp, friends, we have another situation. Your guidance and help as always is greatly apprectiated.

I have a Currie rear end. The rear end sat for oh I don't know like 2 freaking years until it ran. (OH IT WILL ONLY TAKE ME A YEAR TO BUILD IT(@*#(*@) yea right. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER LIFE!!) but anyways--- Well i ran it september this year for first time to State Farm to get insurance and noticed a yellowish liquidy goooo in inside of my wheel tire rim on the drivers side. Called the people at Currie- very helpful -- said that the seal was probably old since it sat for so freaking long that it was hard or something well I didn't know what seal they were talking about but hey, we'll figure it out. I pulled the rear driver side axle guts out of the rear end (FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING) and had fun looking at all the sprockets and bearings that make it run and after much toodo I finally figured how to replace the seal that houses the bearing and all, had to take it to NAPA to get the new seal and bearing pressed on and then figured out how to get the capliper cover which holds the bearing and all in place back on. It was a freaking job. All went great. Ran it for maybe 100 miles, no leaks drips or nothing we be -- went to my dad's for dinner this past SAT. He calls me up in the morning---"Looks like you got a leak" dang same side and everything. What gives? In order to get the shaft back in with out taking bearing apart I did have to grind a little of the ring of the caliper holder-- it was too tight that it would damage the seal that holds the bearing. After inserting that axle with new bearing I tapped the end of the axle so that it was seated in the mouth of the housing itself. When I had to take the old seated bearing ring out of the housing I used the ingenious method of a pipe wrench and a 3/4" thick piece of wood to work it out. Do you think I perhaps damaged the housing (it looked okay as I inspected and was careful) itself and if so, any suggestions as to keeping it from leaking without having to get a new seal and all again?

As always--- Bruce

cobrabuilderI · #2 (**permalink**) 12-13-2004, 04:39 PM

FYI I also put a thin layer of silicone on the housing prior to inserting new bearing. I have a bad feeling you guys are going to tell me to get a new seal....

Tim Brewer · #3 (**permalink**) 12-13-2004, 09:48 PM

I replaced my seals too because they were leaking, because i had pinched them while putting the axels back in after i changed the gears. Pinching the seals slightly isn't hard to do. I've also heard if you pump too much fluid into the rear end, it could also leak for a short period of time. Hope this helps a little.
Tim

2KWIK4U · #4 (**permalink**) 12-14-2004, 02:45 PM

cbI
Just a thought. There is a vent on the drivers side top axle housing about 4 inches from the center section. When shipped from Currie this vent is capped with a rubber boot. Make sure that you have removed this cap and installed a vent hose that is attached to the frame. If the rearend can't vent, when it warms up it will pressure up and push lube out of the seals.

Brad W.

cobrabuilderI · #5 (**permalink**) 12-17-2004, 10:14 AM

If it has done that, pushed the lube out the seals, you think I need to replace or will that tube do the job? All that I have is the vent with no tube on it. Thanks.