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Replacing the inner oil seal on 3rd gen rear axle.
This write-up covers changing the inner seals only, as it's an easy DIY job, the outer seals and wheel bearings is a lot more involved as a floor press and special tools are needed to remove the ABS ring.
If your handbrake doesn't work and there's oil dribbling onto the insides of the rear wheels, then it's most likely that the inner half shaft oil seals are worn.
Roughtrax sell the seals seperately or as a complete kit. The ABS trigger ring is available seperately.
1. Remove wheel and pull off brake drum. If the drum won't pull off easily, use two M8 bolts and screw them into the two threaded holes provided in the drum to push it off.
The brake shoes and inside of the drum will probably look like this, covered in diff oil!
2. Give the brake shoe assembly a thorough degrease and or pressure wash. (my preference) and remove the brake shoes.
Then, using a 12mm socket or spanner, remove the two bolts and the two springs that secure the handbrake actuator assembly to the backplate.
While it's off, give it a wire brushing and some lubrication (Copper grease) to the clevis pin area to make sure it can move freely, this part is known for seizing affecting smooth handbrake operation.
3. Next. remove the brake pipe and bend it carefully away from the backplate, and either seal the open end with a small plastic bag and cable tie to prevent dirt ingress and fluid drips, or make up a female brake pipe fitting to screw the nipple into as I have.
4. Remove the four nuts (14mm socket/spanner) that hold the backplate to the halfshaft housing and withdraw the halfshaft. A little diff oil may or may not dribble out as you withdraw the shaft so place something underneath to catch any drips.
Here you can see the inner oil seal...
Inspect the large 'O' ring for any damage, but generally they'll be OK.
5. Next, remove the old oil seal. I (carefully) chop it with a sharpened flat blade screwdriver (Redneck!) then hook it out. There's a thin metal ring moulded into the seal that you need to split so that the seal can collapse and be hooked out.
6. Once the seal is out, give the housing a wipe out and make sure the ABS sensor is clean.
7. Smear some oil around the edge of the new seal and tap it into position. I use a suitably sized piece of tube, but you can also gently tap it into place at various points around the circumference of the seal.
8. Brush any dirt off the mating surface of the backplate and lubricate the halfshaft and the inner lip of the seal, then carefully and slowly insert the shaft back into the axle housing, trying not to drag it over the delicate inner lip of the seal as you go.
9. Refit the four nuts to secure the backplate to the axle.
10. Refit the handbrake actuator assembly to the backplate.
11. Re-insert the brake pipe into the wheel cylinder.
2. Fit new brake shoes, as the old ones will be useless as they are contaminated with diff oil.
13. Give the drum a good wash out with thinners to thoroughly degrease it before refitting.
14. Adjust the brake shoes via the toothed adjuster wheel through the slot in the backplate, so that the drum becomes tight to turn by hand.
(Handbrake off, transmission in N)
15. Bleed the rear brake cylinder.
16. Refit road wheel.
17. Go out for a drive and see if you can do some decent handbrake turns now.
If your handbrake doesn't work and there's oil dribbling onto the insides of the rear wheels, then it's most likely that the inner half shaft oil seals are worn.
Roughtrax sell the seals seperately or as a complete kit. The ABS trigger ring is available seperately.
1. Remove wheel and pull off brake drum. If the drum won't pull off easily, use two M8 bolts and screw them into the two threaded holes provided in the drum to push it off.
The brake shoes and inside of the drum will probably look like this, covered in diff oil!
2. Give the brake shoe assembly a thorough degrease and or pressure wash. (my preference) and remove the brake shoes.
Then, using a 12mm socket or spanner, remove the two bolts and the two springs that secure the handbrake actuator assembly to the backplate.
While it's off, give it a wire brushing and some lubrication (Copper grease) to the clevis pin area to make sure it can move freely, this part is known for seizing affecting smooth handbrake operation.
3. Next. remove the brake pipe and bend it carefully away from the backplate, and either seal the open end with a small plastic bag and cable tie to prevent dirt ingress and fluid drips, or make up a female brake pipe fitting to screw the nipple into as I have.
4. Remove the four nuts (14mm socket/spanner) that hold the backplate to the halfshaft housing and withdraw the halfshaft. A little diff oil may or may not dribble out as you withdraw the shaft so place something underneath to catch any drips.
Here you can see the inner oil seal...
Inspect the large 'O' ring for any damage, but generally they'll be OK.
5. Next, remove the old oil seal. I (carefully) chop it with a sharpened flat blade screwdriver (Redneck!) then hook it out. There's a thin metal ring moulded into the seal that you need to split so that the seal can collapse and be hooked out.
6. Once the seal is out, give the housing a wipe out and make sure the ABS sensor is clean.
7. Smear some oil around the edge of the new seal and tap it into position. I use a suitably sized piece of tube, but you can also gently tap it into place at various points around the circumference of the seal.
8. Brush any dirt off the mating surface of the backplate and lubricate the halfshaft and the inner lip of the seal, then carefully and slowly insert the shaft back into the axle housing, trying not to drag it over the delicate inner lip of the seal as you go.
9. Refit the four nuts to secure the backplate to the axle.
10. Refit the handbrake actuator assembly to the backplate.
11. Re-insert the brake pipe into the wheel cylinder.
2. Fit new brake shoes, as the old ones will be useless as they are contaminated with diff oil.
13. Give the drum a good wash out with thinners to thoroughly degrease it before refitting.
14. Adjust the brake shoes via the toothed adjuster wheel through the slot in the backplate, so that the drum becomes tight to turn by hand.
(Handbrake off, transmission in N)
15. Bleed the rear brake cylinder.
16. Refit road wheel.
17. Go out for a drive and see if you can do some decent handbrake turns now.
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