Bit of a rear oil leak....

[thrashingcows]

Well i redid the rear brake hubs a few weeks ago, new bearings and seals, but yesterday on my first day off in about a week I noticed that there was gear oil on the ground by the passenger side rear tire....Doooh!

So today I tore into it to see how bad it was....





All that oil everywhere...that can't be good.

[thrashingcows]

Turns out I nicked the inner seal on the threads when installing it. Gouged the seal and popped the spring loose as well.



And with all that oil everywhere the rear shoes were toast!



So off to the parts store for some new Wagner riveted 12x3 shoes, and SKF inner seals....Did not want to use the raybestos bonded units.

[thrashingcows]

Lots of cleaning to get that gear oil off everything. But finally got everything clean up and start re-assembly. This time I used some black electrical tape over the threads to smooth things out just in case I get weak and wobbly trying to lift that drum and hub into place.



So it turned into an expensive day. Amazing what a small nick in a seal can end up costing you....a big chunk of change, and half a day.

[CumminsPower59]

The tape trick works pretty good, used it on commercial equipment when I don't have a wheel dolly available. Iron hubs and drums get pretty heavy for my weak self...

[PToombs]

I learned a trick too. Pack some grease in the seal to hold the spring when you drive it in. Plenty of times I have driven in a seal and the spring was loose in there. Not fun trying to put it back with a pick when it's installed.

[thrashingcows]

I learned a trick too. Pack some grease in the seal to hold the spring when you drive it in. Plenty of times I have driven in a seal and the spring was loose in there. Not fun trying to put it back with a pick when it's installed.

Never thought of that....good info!