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Has anyone replaced the front inner axle seal? How did you do it? I have read the the TM's, and I understand how to break the axle down. THe TM shows a tool being used to remove and replace the seal, and my question is this: Do you have to use the tool to remove and install the seal, or did you find a workaround?

I used a 3 jaw slide hammer puller that I modified to do it. What I did was remove the slide hammer portion and replaced it with a threaded rod and nuts to attach the threaded rod to the 3 jaw set up. I put the 3 jaw with threaded rod inside of axle pass the seal and adjusted the jaws until it was tight up against the seal. I then slid a plate with a hole in the center through the threaded rod until the plate backed up against the outside of axle housing. Then I put a nut on the portion of the threaded rod protruding out of the plate and tightened down on the nut against the plate until it pulled out the inner seal and bushing. I apologize that this is probably hard to understand without a picture. Hopefully it makes sense. I did this many years ago and not sure I have all the parts again to take a picture. I did both sides and this method worked great for me. Good luck Mike M

EMD567 wrote:Has anyone replaced the front inner axle seal? How did you do it? I have read the the TM's, and I understand how to break the axle down. THe TM shows a tool being used to remove and replace the seal, and my question is this: Do you have to use the tool to remove and install the seal, or did you find a workaround?

Slide hammer is the tool you want. I worked a hook onto the end of mine, and slowly worked my way around the seal.

I got both seals out today, but not without some drama. Worked on both sides with a tool I borrowed from the mech at work. It was basically a piece of bar stock with a hook on on end, and a spot to hit it with a hammer on the other. Worked my way around the seal, was not having much luck, so I quit, and started cleaning up. Finally decided to give it another go, and found the right combination of angle and pressure to pull the seal out.

Now the work is all positive- hope to have her on her wheels next weekend.

When I did mine, I pulled the center chunk, then ran a piece of square tubing from one side to the other, knocking out the seals and bushings with a swing or two from a BFH, then switched sides and repeated the process.
Gary

I reset the seals Saturday, and rebuilt both sides of the front axle. All I have left to do is the backing plates, and finish packing the hubs(inner wheel bearing is already installed)

Nice! Please post a picture if you can.
Gary

the tool I use is the Snap On bearing swivel attachment that screws on a slide hammer, it is heavy enough that it will pull the seal and bushing.

The Military specified a dedicated puller for the front axle seals and bushings. I've never seen one. Vintage Power Wagon had a guy make some that are basically the same simple design. Piece of bar stock pinned on the end of a threaded rod that slides into the tube and flops over behind the seal. Just the correct length. Bar and nut on the outside. It's long enough to use with the knuckle castings in place so you don't have to split those unless you need to.
I saved up for awhile (something like $100) and bought one to do my front end. The seals and bushings came out effortlessly with a couple spins of a wrench. Probably took 30 seconds per side.
Willing to lend it out to anybody that needs it. Probably fits in a standard USPS flat rate box. You pay postage both ways. I'll even send it to Taz. MM.

Thanks for the thought Rick but I made a rig pretty well like that with some RHS, nuts, Thread all and couple of washers welded together and bevelled on one side , my bushings were seriously seized in there though so I tightened the rig right up and hit the bushes with a good dose of freeze spray and they came out like a bullet out of a gun, I suspect someone used a bonding agent on them as after clean-up they were not too hard to get back in at all....

MM