dana60 rear axle bearing and seal service 101 - lots of pics

[gte901m]

I was getting oil inside my rear drums, so figured it was time to investigate - I figured it was the wheel seal on the hubs. Thought I would snap a few pics along the way.

1.) put the rear axle up on jack stands, and chock the front wheels - remove the wheel.


2.) Remove the drum.


3.) Unbolt the 8 bolts holding the axle shaft in.


4.) once the bolts are out, have a pan under the hub, and pull the axle shaft. It may be stuck, from the gasket holding it on. A slight tap will free it.


5.) Use a punch to straighten the lock ring that is bent over the large nut.

[gte901m]

6.) you will need a 2 3/8" thin wall socket. I got mine at Napa. Unscrew the outter lock nut.


7.) now remove the lock ring with a pick.


8.) next remove the inner lock nut. you should now be looking at the outter bearing.


9.) remove the outter bearing. You wil now be looking at this.


10.) now the hub assemble will slide off. Be careful of gear oil that will fall out on your pretty driveway. You will now be looking at the spindle.

[gte901m]

11.) put the hub assembly on your work bench and remove the seal. I like to hit the seal with a chisle, all the way around it. This seems to help the seal cave inwards, and aids in removal.


12.) now use a seal puller or a pry bar to remove the seal.


13.) with the seal gone, you can remove the inner bearing. you will now be looking at the bearing race. Inspect both for damage or play. These were ok. Now would be the time to change bearings if you need to.


14.) put the inner bearing back in, and hammer the new seal in.


15.) slide the hub back on the spindle, and reinstall the outter bearing. Again, inspect it, and replace if needed. I cleaned the old gear oil sludge off the slindle before installing the hub.

[gte901m]

16.) screw the inner lock nut on the spindle, while spinning the hub. I couldn't find a torque spec in my TSM, but get it kinda tight at first to seat the bearings. Then back it off. Keep spinnig the hub to "feel" for resistense.


17.) now put the lock ring back on. You will need to straighten it out first.


18.) now install the outter lock nut. I couldn't find a torque spec for this either, so I did it by feel (not too tight). Use a screw driver and bend one of the lock tab ears over the outter lock nut.


19.) I was unable to find a replacement gasket for the axle shaft flange, so I used the old one as a template and cut two new ones.


20.) slide the axle shaft back in, and tighten the axle flange nuts. I wasn't able to find a torques specs for these either. Then slide the drum back on, and you are ready for the other side.


After you finish, you may want to check your fluid level in your rear diff. Oh, and don't forget the to bolt the rear wheels on before driving off.

[DAHoyle]

Looks good except for one thing. Not sure I would use a gasket that thick there, or any gasket at all for that matter.

It will probably be ok, but I would prefer as close to metal to metal as possible on that joint, to help transfer the rotational force to the hub, thru the clamped flanges, rather than just the bolts.

[gte901m]

Wouldn't oil leak out without some type of gasket? There was a gasket on there, I assumed it was original.

[gte901m]

I forgot to add the part numbers:

Inner hub seal: timken 455860
Inner bearing: timken 28678
outer bearing: timken 18690

The races are sold separate.

[DAHoyle]

Originally Posted by gte901m

Wouldn't oil leak out without some type of gasket? There was a gasket on there, I assumed it was original.

I'm sure there was a gasket there, just a much thinner, more dense one. That looks like generic soft gasket material that you used.

Personally, I would have used sealant without a gasket.

I'm sure it'll be fine. Just check those bolts for awhile. If they loosen up, just a re-tightening will take care of it.

[mrtazwrench]

I usually seal these up with silicone, for a gasket I would have used a manilla file folder for materal, then when you had the hubs on the bench you could have tapped out new gasket with a ballpean hammer. It's a good idea to replace these seals any time the hubs are taken off.

[jaber]

Excellent write up. Thank you....