'98 Mountaineer rear end axle

[timearl]

Rear right bearing seal failed and leaked differential fluid out. Bearing must have overheated and the axle sheared at the bearing. Fortunately while at a red light start. It appears the disc brake assembly is OK but the two bolts that hold the disc break assembly on the hub are torqued (bent). I would call it the "bell housing" that the disk break assembly attaches I would like to replace. But it appears the assembly itself (where the bearing seal rests) as been slightly disfigured (ever so slightly). The wheel and tire were not damaged. So: is it possible to hammer the axle assembly using maybe some large washers that are the same size as a bearing seal? Perhaps heating the metal before trying to reshape? I hate to think of having to replace the rear differential and axle completely.

 

[koda2000]

Go to the salvage yard. Any rear axle from a '95-'01 Explorer/Mountaineer with the same gear ratio will work. They usually run around $250-$300. I replaced one last summer. I replaced the axle seals and changed the oil in it. As you're 2WD the gear ratio isn't even critical. Most you'll find are 3:73's and 4:10's. An LSD is a plus.

 

[bluestream1]

That rear axle must have been making a lot of noise before it failed.

 

[Robman]

I was going to say, you must have left it leaking for aloooong time, lol.

 

[timearl]

Thanks all for the advice on the salvage. Yeah, it was making noise. In fact, that back right rear seal has failed twice before. I have become pretty good at popping the axle out of this. This all happened Christmas Eve and I was very, very lucky. That given, has anyone hammered a non-circle back into a circle successfully
?

 

[koda2000]

Thanks all for the advice on the salvage. Yeah, it was making noise. In fact, that back right rear seal has failed twice before. I have become pretty good at popping the axle out of this. This all happened Christmas Eve and I was very, very lucky. That given, has anyone hammered a non-circle back into a circle successfully
?

No.

BTW, I suspect the reason you kept having to replace the axle seal is because the bearing (and/or axle) was worn.

 

[timearl]

If you have any link that has picture/video to assist in the replacement, please send along the link. Just not sure what kind of a project this will be. But willing to do that is necessary to make it happen. Thank you for the advice and forum posts, all.