The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Front wheel bearing seals

Hey Guys I am having a little dilemma here. I am in the middle of restoration of the front axle assembly of my 56 6100. The problem at hand is I don't like the stock felt seals and wish to replace them with more modern lip seals but can't seem to find replacment to fit.
The dimensions are 2.479 ID 3.308 OD 0.416 thich.
Has anyone here updated thier seals? Anyone know of a P/N for seals that work, or have a good solution?
If so your help here would be greatly appreciated.

Hy HevyHauler, I looked up your seal by dimensions, I came up with C/R 24920, Napa p/n NOS24920 $18.00, or National 6785. The dimensions in the seal catalog are 2.480" I.D., 3.314" O.D., .500" thick, the application is listed as 1954 - 65 IFS050 and IFS055 axles, hope that helps

Thanks 3B I'll look in to that

Well I looked up the Napa number and it is the stock felt seal
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=NOS24920_0221735019

HY HevyHauler, I looked up National 6785 at RockAutos website (the second seal number I gave you), and it shows a lip type seal, unfortunately they only have one left. I'm sure your F.L.A.P.S. (other than Napa) should be able to track them down for you, hope that helps.

Ahw I just got back from flaps and ordered seals with the proper ID and a slightly larger OD. So the plan is to chuck the hub up and turn it to fit the seal.
I will post the seal number and some pics in a couple of days. The seals will be here tomorrow.
Thanks for your input 3B I will call my Flaps store now with that other number. But we looked though the books for about an hour.

Hey 3B I looked that number up on Rock Auto and it is kind of wierd they show a picture of a lip seal but clearly says that it is felt. What?????
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=256534

Oh and it looks like the lip that they show in the picture is for a face seal???

Hy Hevyhauler, I did look in the metric seal section, and I found no direct replacement (63mm X 84mm X 12mm). I did find two seals with a 1mm larger C/R p/ns 24755 and 24758, 24755 is 8mm wide, and 24758 is 10mm wide, is one of those numbers the ones you have on order?

I am not sure what the P/N of the one I have on order is. I will be pickling it up after work though. I do know that it was listed in the SAE cat. Funny I am here at work without my calipers and there is a seal laying on the floor that looks like it would fit LOL

Ok got the seals with larger OD (SKF 24877) and it doesn't look as if there is enough material on the hub to machine out and make them fit.
3B: I did find and clean up one of the felt seals that came out and the number on it is the National 6785 I just can't believe that they still make this antiquated seal and don't have an upgade for it.
Oh well I guess it is back to the drawing board.

Hy HevyHauler, I couldn't find that seal number in my 2002 SKF seal handbook, so I don't know what the dimemsions of it are. Those two metric sized seal numbers I gave you earlier would require your hubs to be machined out .5mm, do you have enough room in them to take out that small amount?

I don't know I'm going back to Napa today to look at other seals and I got the hub with me this time.Well breaks over time for me to get back to work talk to you later.

well my favorite flaps counter man now has the hub and bearing, he's looking to see if he can find a good replacement seal.
I may just have to go with the stock felt seal. What I really wanted to do here is change the hubs from greased to wet bearings.

Good news once again, my favorite Napa counter person thinks that he has found a seal.
I should know this afternoon if this one will fit.

Hy Hevyhauler, that's good news, please keep us informed of mods., fit, and part numbers.

We'll do,if I am able to achieve my goal of converting from greased to oil bath I will do a tech tip.

Never fear Bolters, From what I keep hearing, we will all be making whatever we need with our 3-D printer very soon.

This is happening but is becoming more involved. The inner bearing with the seal land as part of the inner race will be replaced with an easier obtained bearing and a spacer that will also be the seal land. This will kill two bird's with one stone. One get me the oil bath hubs I wanted and two make it easier to get a replacement bearing. As that stock inner bearing is made of unobtainium LOL.

BTW. I will do a tech tip on this with pictures, part numbers and a drawing of the spacer with dimensions. As soon as I am finished.

Why would you want to change to an oil set up on the steer, most of us are putting steer axles back to grease on truck that don't get much use, and alot of people are turning back to grease on trailers also, walmart runs all their trailers in grease bearings and I believe their tractor steer axles also.

One I will use this truck a lot
Two easy maintenance
Three I work in fleet maintenance and other than the military that still insist on using wedge brakes most modern commercial trucks use oil bath bearings.
Besides even if I wished to grease the bearings I would still want to change to a modern lip seal from the old felt seal that let moister and dirt into the bearings.
Like I mentioned back a few post I will also be changing the inner bearings to more commonly available bearings by adding a spacer for the seal lip to ride on.So I am killing two birds with one Stone.

Okay this project is now coming along nicely. However at this point it is now someone out of my hands. The machine shop now has all the parts necessary to do their part. Although I now think that I will also bring him the axle beam and have him install new king pins as well.That way when I bolt in this axle the entire front suspension and steering system will be new. A couple of months ago I installed new springs and shackles, I also have new u-bolts for the installation of the axle.
It is nice to finally be back on track after 4 years of absolutely nothing happening with this project.
One thing at a time, now if I can just stay focused and not let my A.D.D. take over LOL.

Today I blasted cleaned and painted my axle beam with Dupli-colors natural cast iron gray. After making it look like new I delivered it to my friend at Napa to go with the rest of my parts to the machine shop tomorrow for new king pins. By next weekend the axle hubs and brakes should all be done and ready for reassembly.
I have tomorrow off so I will spend the day preparing the shop for the axle assembly and production of some tech tips with pictures.
I rebuilt my wheel cylinders,blasted and painted the backing plates bought new shoes and hardware kits.
Drums and hubs have been blasted turned and painted and all fasteners are new grade 8 cad plated.oh and the tie rod ends are new as well.

I will also be installing the right side steering Arm and building the new drag link out of an extra tie rod that will hook to the scout steering box that will give this truck power steering and better control. I will explain this all with pictures as it all goes together. I guess this thread has morphed into much more than just upgrading seals. I may have hijacked my own tread LOL

Sorry I haven't done anything on this project all weekend. Was a little depressed on Friday to find out that the machine shop had not finished yet.
I have however recovered from my depression and am now headed for Harbor Fright and the local hardware store to get some media to service my cabinet blaster and some fittings to finish installing the air drier for my compressed air system. All things to help complete all my truck projects.
I hate it when I get rolling on something and hit a delay, although I laugh about it I am serious about being A.D.D. it can be a real challenge to stay focused. Anyway talk about staying focused I should go by guys have a great Sunday afternoon.

Well now I got my self in a little trouble with the little woman on this one. I just found out the total cost $679.00 not really bad for what was done but I got a little carried away everything is new bearings brakes seals king pins and all hardware. I should have it back by this coming weekend just hope the little woman don't kill me before I get it installed.