98 4X4 front hub seals - which way?

[Scott S]

My front hub assembly and Axle on my 98 Explorer Limited were bad so I bought all new parts. Since the Hub dust shield / seals were in poor shape I ordered new CR ones. The new ones are not like the old OEM and with the CR ones both parts look like they mount to the axle instead of the origninal where one pressed into the hub and one slipped on the axle stub.

Can anyone tell me the proper positioning for the new style dust shield and seal?

I contacted the parts store and they had no luck getting info from CR on these. It's been a week process now and the truck is sitting apart.

Thanks for any tips or advice.

 

[Scott S]

The components in question are actually the excluder seals.

I've contacted CR, been to Ford and don;t know where else to turn. No one has a diagram as to how the new 2 piece excluder seals go in. The original was one piece rubber seal on the front axle. These new CR seals are 2 piece and have one tha is rubber inside and outside and the other is metal with an internal seal.

CR product manager said these were updated at the request of Dana but they have no documentation on the placement.

My other option as the Ford and parts store fellas suggested was to leave them out.

Does any one have any experiece with changing from hub units and the new excluder seals on the axles?

My truck is still apart and I'm at a loss as to what to do with these. I'm hesitant to just leave them out. Why would they spend the money to develop a replacement if it was not needed?

 

[gijoecam]

There was a TSB on the issue that removed the old seals (which tended to make a squealing noise) and replace them with the revised (and much quieter) seals.

TSB 01-11-4

There aren't any pics, but read-on:

Perform the following for each side of the vehicle:

Perform the front halfshaft removal procedure per Section 205-04 of the appropriate model year Workshop Manual.
Restrain the halfshaft assembly by the outboard (wheel end) joint outer race. Clamp with a vise on the exposed metal surface only. The CV joint should be in an upright position (splined end up). Be careful not to damage the boot or boot clamp.
Remove the old seal by prying it off the shaft.
Clean the outer race of the CV joint of any remaining foreign matter.
Install the new Front Halfshaft Excluder Seal (YL2Z-3K070-AA) by pressing it onto the outer race of the outboard CV joint by hand or with an appropriate hand tool. All seal markings will be facing the bell of the joint (away from the stem).
NOTE: BE CAREFUL TO ONLY PRESS ON THE EXPOSED STEEL PORTION OF THE SEAL. START THE SEAL ON THE HALFSHAFT BY HAND, AND THEN PRESS ON THE EXPOSED STEEL PORTION OF THE SEAL IN 20 DEGREE INCREMENTS AROUND THE SEAL UNTIL IT IS FULLY SEATED AND PARALLEL TO THE CV JOINT FACE. BE CAREFUL TO AVOID DAMAGING THE RUBBER PORTION OF THE SEAL.



Spread an approximately 3mm (1/8") thick bead of High-Temperature Wheel Bearing Grease (E8TZ-19590-A) onto the new seal lips.
Clean the inner surface of the knuckle (-3K185-/-3K186-). This is the metal surface the seals will ride against.
Perform the halfshaft installation procedure per Section 205-04 of the appropriate Workshop Manual.
Verify that the noise is no longer present.

Does that make sense? Having never seen them myself (the dealership did mine under warranty) I can't help from experience....

-Joe

 

[Scott S]

There was a TSB on the issue that removed the old seals (which tended to make a squealing noise) and replace them with the revised (and much quieter) seals.

TSB 01-11-4

There aren't any pics, but read-on:



Does that make sense? Having never seen them myself (the dealership did mine under warranty) I can't help from experience....

-Joe

The new set is two pieces. A metal ring with a internal seal and a rubber seal.

I'm guessing based on the above I press on the metal ring first and then the rubber seal after. So metal ring is up against the raised part of the cv side and the second one - rubber faces the splines end.

Oddly it doesn't state two parts though!

Thanks for the info.

 

[gijoecam]

Wish I could help you out, but I honestly have no clue..... sorry.

Let us know how it turns out!