How do you seal a rear axle hub?

I put a small bead of sealer around the axle shaft splines before sliding the hub back on to help keep the gear lube from leaking out the front side behind the nut. Wipe a little oil or grease on the inside lip of the new seal and around the seal diameter on the hub before the hub goes on.

What to do if rear axle does not move?

Rock the rear wheel from side to side. If the hub doesn’t move on the axle, drive the tractor around for a few minutes. Do some figure 8’s. Sometimes this will loosen the hub from the axle taper and save you from having to use a large puller.

When do you need to replace rear axle seals?

If the axle splines protrude past the hub splines the hub is worn. If the axle splines protrude far enough the washer will bottom out and you cannot tighten the hub onto the axle. The hub will also rub on the center of the bearing retainer. In that case, the hub is definitely shot and must be replaced.

Where are the shims located on a rear axle?

Remember you are adjusting the total preload for both axle bearings. The axles butt together in the center of the differential and have a tapered bearing on each outside end. The total number of shims determines the preload and each shim affects both axles equally. You’re not setting each side, you’re setting the total.

What to do if your rear axle is loose?

If they still don’t appear to be loose on the axle, go ahead and remove the lug nuts and rear wheel. Remove the brake drum (the 4 flat head screws holding the drum to the hub can be a bear to remove if they’re rusted in – and they usually are). Remove the brake shoes. Pull the hub off, if it’s loose.

What kind of seal do I need for a Ford tractor?

If your tractor is a ’48 or’49, you have just one outer seal. If you have a ’50 – ’52 you have an outer and an inner seal. You will need the (Ford part number) A8NN4248A retainer assembly. This is actually the outer seal. The seal is pressed into the retainer. You will need the 8N4284 gasket and the 8N4225 gasket.