Leaking rear axle on an Eaton- help

[bobs409]

My 71 C20 is leaking gear oil from the back of the RR wheel. This has an Eaton rear with the big salad bowl cover. How hard is it to change these?

I looked on Autozones website and they list H052 or Spicer 60. Which one is mine anyway?


Thanks for any help,


Bob

[Sinister]

Ho52

[Elephanthead]

Easy to fix. Drive down to Midas and tell them to change it!

[hicktownhotrodder]

screw that big heavy chunk of iron and put in a 12 bolt! you can get any parts you would ever need for that then. but thats just me. where exactly is it coming from?

[bobs409]

It's coming out from inside the brake drum.

[hicktownhotrodder]

ha well i am going to join you! after i made my reply about this, my truck must have been listening. i drove 4 miles to work and it was spewing oil on the outside of the drum. are you sure its rearend oil and not brake fluid? cause mine does that too

[Longhorn Man]

if you have the special socket to remove the hub assembly, then it is a simple job. Pull hub, remove seal, drive new one in, clean drum and shoes real good and reasemble.

[sleepertruck72]

Its not that hard really. Like LHM said get the special socket, it will make it easy. My C20 had the same problem, but I have the Dana 60. I imagine it should be really similar. I also had wheel cylinders leaking so I rebuilt those. You may want to Check them out while youre at it

[bobs409]

Thanks guys. It's definetly gear oil, no mistaking that smell! lol

I already have the socket. I needed that when I replaced the entire rear brake system, everythng but the backing plates! On a 3/4 ton, that means: $$$

I sure wish I replaced the $5.99 dollar seals while I was in there!

I know what I'm doing today.

[Longhorn Man]

you should replace the seal whenever you take the hub off.

[Sinister]

What size is that socket?

[bobs409]

Wow, that sucker was really in there! It took about 20 minutes to pry and rip it out. Even to install the new one was so tight, I used my shop press rather than trying to hammer it in.

One thing is for sure, my RR wheel well or exhaust pipe won't rust for a long time! That gear oil goes everywhere!

If I had known about this seal, I would have replaced it earlier. I was thinking an axle seal was behind the backing plate for some reason. I never even noticed them before.

Hope that cures the problem... (test drive to be done yet)

[Elephanthead]

I used a jack handle and just pounded them out from behind, there is a seal removal tool though that has a pointy spike to get um out. I did change mine when I did the brakes, you should also lube them up before you put the drum back on.

[Longhorn Man]

Elephanthead is right, and I forgot to mention that the other day.
When slipping the hub on, it's always a good idea to dip your finger in some clean smelly gear oil and coat the hole of the seal so it'll slide onto the spindle easy and with no damage.

[bobs409]

I must have done it right, no leaks!

On to the next project...

[Sinister]

Originally Posted by Sinister

What size is that socket?

Hey bobs409, you wouldn't happen to know the size of the spindle nut socket for the hub would you?