rear axle seal leak. chevy tracker

3 ANSWERS

1. amomipais82
   

   Hi There,
   #
   
   First, place the vehicle in park (automatic), or reverse (manual) on a solid level surface. Do NOT apply the emergency brake. If you do you will not be able to get the drum off. Jack up the rear of the vehicle and secure it on jack stands. Place a piece of wood, or brick in front of the front wheels to keep the vehicle from moving. The best thing to do now it to see if you can remove the fill plug for the rear differential. You do not want to do this repair only to find out at the end that you can't refill the differential. Now remove the wheel. With the wheel removed you will need to remove the brake drum. Sometimes you can pull it off by hand, but most likely you will need to use force to remove the drum. Use a hammer and hit the front of the brake drum. Make sure you do not hit the wheel studs. Alternate sides while hitting and you should see the drum move outward. When it does grab both sides and work it off.
   #
   Step 2
   Rear Axle Shaft Bolts
   Rear Axle Shaft Bolts
   
   With the brake drum removed you will need to remove the emergency brake linkage and brake line. The steps to remove the emergency brake linkage varies by vehicle. If you can't figure it out a Haynes/Chilton's manual can tell you the specific steps for your vehicle. Before you remove the brake line follow the brake line until you find a rubber hose, if your vehicle has one. If it does, use Vise-Grips to carefully pinch the line closed. This will prevent unnecessary brake fluid waste. To remove the brake line it is best to use a line wrench. If you use a regular open end wrench you run the risk of stripping the flare nut. You may have to hit the wrench to get it loose, as this is a fitting that doesn't get removed often. You do not have to remove the brake shoes to do this. Now you will notice bolts on the back of the axle shaft bolting it to the backing plate. Remove these bolts and you will be able to remove the axle shaft. Carefully slide the axle out with the brake shoes still in place.
   #
   Step 3
   Rear Axle Seal
   Rear Axle Seal
   
   Now you will see the rear axle seal. (The gold colored ring in the center of the picture). To remove it take a flat head (standard) screwdriver place it in the crack between the seal and the axle shaft housing and hit it with a hammer. This will start to deform the seal. Once you have the screwdriver inserted, pry the seal out. With the seal out clean the area where the new seal will go.
   #
   Step 4
   Seal Driver Set
   Seal Driver Set
   
   You will have to be very careful when installing the new seal. They can easily be damaged during installation. First push the new seal in as far as you can by hand. Try to keep it even when installing it. The best tool to use when installing a rear axle seal is a seal driver. Find the right size adapter and use it to hammer the seal in place. Make sure that it seats evenly and does not have any dents in it. If you do not have a seal driver you can use a block of wood and a hammer.
   #
   Step 5
   
   With the new axle seal in place reverse the removal procedure to reinstall everything. Once everything has been reinstalled fill the rear differential with the appropriate fluid. Check your owner's manual to see which fluid your vehicle takes. It is full when the level of the fluid is even with the fill hole. Replace the fill plug and lower the vehicle.
   Hope it helps

   Report (0) (0)  |   12 years, 8 month(s) ago  

2. amomipais82
   

   Hi There,
   #
   
   First, place the vehicle in park (automatic), or reverse (manual) on a solid level surface. Do NOT apply the emergency brake. If you do you will not be able to get the drum off. Jack up the rear of the vehicle and secure it on jack stands. Place a piece of wood, or brick in front of the front wheels to keep the vehicle from moving. The best thing to do now it to see if you can remove the fill plug for the rear differential. You do not want to do this repair only to find out at the end that you can't refill the differential. Now remove the wheel. With the wheel removed you will need to remove the brake drum. Sometimes you can pull it off by hand, but most likely you will need to use force to remove the drum. Use a hammer and hit the front of the brake drum. Make sure you do not hit the wheel studs. Alternate sides while hitting and you should see the drum move outward. When it does grab both sides and work it off.
   #
   Step 2
   Rear Axle Shaft Bolts
   Rear Axle Shaft Bolts
   
   With the brake drum removed you will need to remove the emergency brake linkage and brake line. The steps to remove the emergency brake linkage varies by vehicle. If you can't figure it out a Haynes/Chilton's manual can tell you the specific steps for your vehicle. Before you remove the brake line follow the brake line until you find a rubber hose, if your vehicle has one. If it does, use Vise-Grips to carefully pinch the line closed. This will prevent unnecessary brake fluid waste. To remove the brake line it is best to use a line wrench. If you use a regular open end wrench you run the risk of stripping the flare nut. You may have to hit the wrench to get it loose, as this is a fitting that doesn't get removed often. You do not have to remove the brake shoes to do this. Now you will notice bolts on the back of the axle shaft bolting it to the backing plate. Remove these bolts and you will be able to remove the axle shaft. Carefully slide the axle out with the brake shoes still in place.
   #
   Step 3
   Rear Axle Seal
   Rear Axle Seal
   
   Now you will see the rear axle seal. (The gold colored ring in the center of the picture). To remove it take a flat head (standard) screwdriver place it in the crack between the seal and the axle shaft housing and hit it with a hammer. This will start to deform the seal. Once you have the screwdriver inserted, pry the seal out. With the seal out clean the area where the new seal will go.
   #
   Step 4
   Seal Driver Set
   Seal Driver Set
   
   You will have to be very careful when installing the new seal. They can easily be damaged during installation. First push the new seal in as far as you can by hand. Try to keep it even when installing it. The best tool to use when installing a rear axle seal is a seal driver. Find the right size adapter and use it to hammer the seal in place. Make sure that it seats evenly and does not have any dents in it. If you do not have a seal driver you can use a block of wood and a hammer.
   #
   Step 5
   
   With the new axle seal in place reverse the removal procedure to reinstall everything. Once everything has been reinstalled fill the rear differential with the appropriate fluid. Check your owner's manual to see which fluid your vehicle takes. It is full when the level of the fluid is even with the fill hole. Replace the fill plug and lower the vehicle.
   Hope it helps

   Report (1) (0)  |   12 years, 8 month(s) ago  

3. Guest2136
   

   how do i get the rear axle shaft out of a 2002 dodge ram1500

   Report (0) (0)  |   12 years, 8 month(s) ago