You are here:
- Home
- Shopping
- Vintage Cars
- Classic/Antique Car Repair
- rear wheel axle seal
Classic/Antique Car Repair/rear wheel axle seal
Advertisement
Question
1940 Plymouth, How do I change the rear wheel axle seal?
There are two axle seals on your car, an inner and an outer. The procedure is as follows:
Jack the rear axle up and support on jack stands. Remove the wheel and then using a puller remove the brake drum. Once the drum is off, remove the hydraulic line to the wheel cylinder. There 5 bolts that hold the brake backing plate on that nee to be removed an remove the brake backing plate and the outer seal. There should be several shims behind the seal, count them and make sure that they are re-installed as this controls the end play of the axle shaft. Using a sliding hammer puller remove the axle shaft. The inner seal can them be pried out. The rear wheel bearing needs to be packed with grease before re-assembly and put it all back together in the reverse order.
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Brad Sears
Expertise
All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.
Experience
Automotive tech instructor.
Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's.
Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's
TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated.
Auto instructor for the following companies:
Fram
Autolyte
Holly
Carter
AMF
Ford Motor
University Of Conn
Blue Hills Technical School
Sugar River Technical Center
Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.
Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.
Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember.
Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.
Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.