Rear axle seal replacement?

[UMD]

For the last few months I've been hearing a light clicking noise from what I thought was the back left tire. The noise was intermittent and only occurs when traveling around 5mph as when slowing down, however is present with and without brake use. Sound is like dropping a rock in an empty tin can.

I jacked up the truck today and searched the tire, and found no problems. As i slowly turned the tire I eventually heard a low clicking noise, but from the rear right side. Upon looking at that tire I noticed it had plenty of grease on the rim. Pulled the tire and saw the axle seal was leaking, and had in / out play of maybe 1/8". Spun the wheel and continued to hear a scraping noise. Pulled the rotor and found both emergency brake shoes were separated and free floating in the rotor.

I never use the emergency brake, so I am not concerned with that at the moment.

However I am wondering if I need to replace the wheel bearings, or if I can just do the seal?

I found the sticky where you open the rear differential cover to do this, but also saw a youtube video for a Ford Ranger where they didn't mention the rear diff at all, and just pulled it from the outside.

How do I get the part of the wheel with the lug nut studs off so I can access the seal?

Thanks.

 

[Carguy3J]

You can not change a rear wheel seal without opening the cover, and pulling the axle(s). It would be foolish to not change the bearing at the same time. In fact, you may not have a choice, as it is very easy to damage the bearing, trying to pull the sea, anyway. Also, unless you're flat broke, do both sides. The bearing and seal for the other side is cheaper then having to drain and refill the fluid again later, not to mention the time involved.

If you have a limited slip, use 75w140 full synthetic (I like Mobil1). Both the Mobil1 and the Valvoline, should already have the limited slip additive in it. I would use the same fluid, even if you don't have a limited slip, but according to Ford, you can use 80w90 conventional gear oil. Personally, I never use conventional gear oil anymore, in anything. It STINKS, and the smell never comes out of your clothes. Synthetic gear oil is much less stinky, more like motor oil.

As for the rear e-brake....

A.) You should be using it every time you park, especially on a hill. If you don't, it's very easy to break off the tiny little "park" pawl inside the trans. It was never designed to hold the weight of the vehicle, only to hold the trans in park.

B.) It's called an EMERGENCY brake for a reason. You never know when an emergency, such as hydraulic brake failure, or a stuck throttle, could occur.

Fix it now while you're in there, and use it on a regular basis (for parking). Part of why they fail, freeze up, etc... is from lack of use. Parts seize up.

In any case, the springs, especially the lower one, are a real pain in the ass to install with the axle shaft in the way. So, again, do it while you have the axle(s) out.

You'll need a slide hammer, and axle bearing puller adapter, to pull the seals/bearings. You'll need a seal installation tool kit to put the new ones in. Both of these sets are available from Autozone, as "loaner" tools.