Dust seals ????

[spinfisher]

I have a squeaking noise in the front right of my 98 ex. I've replaced the hub ass. and lubed the snot out of the front. still squeaky! sounds like metal on rubber ,starts at about 15-20 mph. Someone told me it might be "dust seals". If the hub is seal why would there be "dustseals"?? dose anyone have a diagram or picture?? Thanks

 

[jimbo74]

there are a lot of dust seals... could it be part of the suspension that is doing it? or maybe your cv boots?

 

[MichaelC]

dust seal sqeak

the dust seals are located on the halfshafts just outboard of the cv joints. they have a metal band in them and are press fit onto the halfshaft. they ride up against the inner side of the hub assembly to keep dust out and do start to squeak with age or contamination from dust and water. they are easily replaced by removing the halfshaft and prying off the old seal with a screwdriver and pressing on a new one. I think I paid less than $10 for one seal from the Ford dealer, don't try to grease an old seal, the fix wont last long that way. before you reinstall the halfshaft with its new seal, pack the seal full of di-electric grease or clear silicone (not rtv, you want the non drying stuff) and also make sure you clean the metal ring that the seal rides up against. After that you should be sqeak free.

 

[Opera House]

More like a slinger

Than a seal. It is just a disk on th shaft that is close, not sealing, to the sheet metal seperator pressed into the back of the hub. You can jack up the wheel, rotate it and watch this disk from the back side. It might be tilted causing the rub. I think there is about 0.1" between the two pieces. Some have given up and just pulled them off. Think it is a good idea to pull the hubbs off now and then. Seems like a big one way trap for everything. Think they should have a drain hole instead of that tiny O ring nobody puts back.

 

[spinfisher]

Thanks

Thanks for all the info, will take a look it this week-end .And let you know what i find!