Are bearings mandatory for rear axle seal replacement?

[repo]

If the rear axle seals leaked but there's no play in the bearings should they be replaced anyway because it's contaminated with the gear oil now? Or is it ok to just do the seals?

 

[cashmoney]

Mandatory? No. Good idea so you don't have to do them again for a long time and possibly damaging your brand new seals and having to redo those again? Yes.

 

[blaze17]

There may be year to year differences but on my 2000 no bearing removal was necessary to replace the seal and o-ring.

 

[repo]

What I mean is does a seal leak drastically affect their longevity by interfering with the lubrication or whatever?

 

[m88tow]

No it's a sealed bearing. Clean the spacer on the axle shaft that the seal rides on. As long as it is not damaged it should be fine with a new seal. If it has nicks or grooves it has to be replaced because it won't seal again very good. And if that has to be replaced might as well replace the bearing as well while you are already pressing it

 

[JayRolla]

FWIW I installed new oem $5 seal few years back. Still no leaks. Knock on wood!

 

[nevada]

What I mean is does a seal leak drastically affect their longevity by interfering with the lubrication or whatever?

No it's a sealed bearing. Clean the spacer on the axle shaft that the seal rides on. As long as it is not damaged it should be fine with a new seal. If it has nicks or grooves it has to be replaced because it won't seal again very good. And if that has to be replaced might as well replace the bearing as well while you are already pressing it

it depends on how quickly you catch the leak. the seal is before the bearing, so if gear oil is getting outside the housing, it HAS to be going THROUGH the bearing. if you wash out too much of the grease in the bearing, its life will be diminished.


that said, I have changed JUST the seal many times with good results.


seals are cheap, bearings are not. try just the seal now, if the bearing goes out soon, replace it and the seal again. no big deal.

 

[repo]

OK thanks, I will try with just the seals for now and do the breather extender. It's my daily driver and we have a big storm coming on Monday.

 

[KidVermicious]

I did brakes and seals about three months ago, it didn't last. I think if you're really lucky you might get away with it, but next time I'll do the wheel bearings up front.

For what it's worth, wheel bearings are not scary. I bought a used 20T press for $50, scored a free rear housing to make an SST out of, and with those I was able to press everything off and on and reuse the ABS ring and retainers. I bought axle seals, snap rings, o rings, and the wheel bearings, spent a little over $200 on parts.

 

[etc.]

If you do the bearings, you may want to get a quote on removal and installation.

It might be cheaper to buy some Yukon axles and have the bearings pressed it. It would of been $60 more and 3 days faster if I went this route.

 

[LittleCaesar]

If you have the money and time do the bearings.

 

[JNYD401]

I just did axle seal. $230 I didnt have/need to spend. easy enough to do axle seal. been 3 months now, no problems back there. Brakes, now there's another subject.......