Drive Axle Seal (Left Front)

[hillron]

Hello, I've a 2003 Ford Explorer, 4.0, 145,000 miles. Issue: Difficulty Installing drive axle seal. Purchased 3 seals and damaged 2 of 3. Purchased 2 of 3 from Auto Zone and one from Ford dealer. So far, disconnected steering knuckle at upper balljoint, disconnected stabilizer link. Dont have alot of space. Used tail pipe extension and block of wood . Seal refusing to go in differential housing. Have any of you had this issue and or do anyone have video of how to install? Thanks for any assistance

 

[IPcamper]

I haven't done the left front seal, but have done the right side. I recall that a Cambell soup can was just the right size to drive the seal in with a rubber mallet. Take some Emory cloth or fine sand paper and make sure there are no burrs or crude on the housing, that the seal might be hanging up on. I also coated the outside of the seal with some RTV to ensure a good seal to the housing, I think that might of help it slide in as well.

 

[imp]

Hello, I've a 2003 Ford Explorer, 4.0, 145,000 miles. Issue: Difficulty Installing drive axle seal. Purchased 3 seals and damaged 2 of 3. Purchased 2 of 3 from Auto Zone and one from Ford dealer. So far, disconnected steering knuckle at upper balljoint, disconnected stabilizer link. Dont have alot of space. Used tail pipe extension and block of wood . Seal refusing to go in differential housing. Have any of you had this issue and or do anyone have video of how to install? Thanks for any assistance

@hillron
If installing seals is new territory for you: they must be started STRAIGHT, square with the housing. Any obstructive **** or dirt interfering must be cleaned away. Most seals (but not all) are coated with a sealer for their outside diameter. Silicone rubber (RTV) or other sealer on OD will not hurt anything, UNLESS the "slipperiness" of it allows the seal to "****" as it starts to enter the press-fit.

If you have measuring tools, a digital caliper, it pays to measure the housing inside diameter (ID) and compare that to the seal provided to you by the supplier regarding it's outside diameter (OD). If seal OD is much more than 0.005" larger than housing ID, IT WON'T GO IN. imp