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#25811 04/29/2003 9:19 PM | Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 30 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 30 | Just how tough is this to replace? Manual page 4-11 makes it sound simple, is it? Any tips or tricks? Sunny and 65ish in MN and the outdoor garage is now open.
Deaner
1950 Chevy 3600 Stake Bed
I don't know where I'm going, but there's no sense being late!
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#25812 04/30/2003 12:49 AM | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,904 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,904 | The hubs on my 3/4T came off very easily. I then took the hubs to my ol' timer mechanic who replaced the seals. It took him no time at all and he didn't charge me.
One thing about the shop manual is that they used all kind of speciality tools. It makes you think that you have to have those tools but sometimes a hammer and piece of pipe will work just fine.
1948 3/4-Ton 5-Window Flatbed Chevrolet 34 Years. Now with a '61 261, 848 head, Rochester Monojet carb, SM420 4-speed, 4.10 rear, dual reservoir MC, Bendix up front, 235/85R16 tires, 12-volt w/alternator, electric wipers and a modern radio in the glove box.
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#25813 04/30/2003 7:15 PM | Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 | The hard part is putting things back together without damaging the new seal. If you take the brake drum off the hub, it is a lot easier to slide the hub straight onto the shaft. There are two slot screws that hold the drum on, usually you need an impact wrench to remove them. If you try to put the hub on with the drum attached, you need to set it on a floor jack and slide it straight on to the shaft.
You will probably need to put a redi-sleeve on the differntial shaft. If there is a groove worn where the seal seats, a new seal will soon leak. You can buy them when you get the seals, they are available at most any parts store. Chevy used the same seal up into the 70's.
One more thing, there is a vent on the top of the differential housing that needs to be cleaned. It is on the driver's side and is threaded into the housing. If the vent is plugged (and most are) the oil vapor will expand when it gets warm and blow out one of the seals.
Fred
52 3600
69 C-10
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#25814 05/27/2003 4:19 PM | Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 30 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 30 | Well I tackled the seal last night. As I removed the 8 bolts to the hub the oil was just running out. Thankfully the new brake pads were bone dry. Hub and axle sliped right out with minimal effort. No groove to contend with, just one grenaded seal. I cleaned everything up, repacked the bearings and had everything back together in about an hour. I had cleaned out the vent last fall so I was good to go there. Next will be a pinion seal. One trick I used was to lay the drum down right-side up and fit the hub over the top threading the studs through the holes. I put one a couple of lug nuts to hold it in place. This gave me a solid platform to stand one while I pried out the old seal with a small but handy crowbar. 
Deaner
1950 Chevy 3600 Stake Bed
I don't know where I'm going, but there's no sense being late!
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#25815 05/30/2003 10:08 PM | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 258 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 258 | Deaner,
Glad to hear your brake linings weren't trashed from the axel lube !
GM actually designed the front and rear axles & backing plates with a catch-pan and drain through to the backside of the backing plates to drain grease leaks like this....so long as the drain holes don't get junked-up!
Didn't realized how much the rear hubs on my '54 were weeping gearlube until I put a set of hub caps on the truck (first ones it had worn on over thirty years!); next time I had the rear hubcaps off, I was startled at how much grease was "suddenly" inside...
Frank McMullen
1941 Chevy dump truck
1949 GMC 100 pick-up
1954 Chevy 3600 pick-up
1955.1 4400 dump truck
1941 De Soto & other MoPars
1928 Model A F**D Special Coupe
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#25816 05/31/2003 6:08 PM | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 Member | | Member Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,897 | Deaner, Good to hear the seal job went well  For those who would like to know the number to the Redi-Sleeve (speedi-sleeve, seal-ride), the part number for National brand is 99282 (2.838-2.844 shaft size). - - Frank54,, I confess, I put that oil inside your hubcap so it would not start to rust on the inside 
There is enough good in the worst of us and enough bad in the best of us that it does not behoove any of us to criticize the rest of us.
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Be yourself. If you are ever lost, It will be much easier to find yourself if you know who you are!
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