Rear Stub Axle Fit Dilemma

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 5:10 am

OK. I'm not exactly an amateur when it comes to things mechanical but right now I'm stumped as to why I'm having trouble with the fittment of the rear stub axles. I've replaced the bearings and seals on my IRS trailing arms but now there seems to be a dimensional change when it comes to getting the spacers to line up with the seals. Both inner and outer seals seem to fit inside the seals therfore not sealing properly and I cannot figure out why. I've double checked the seals and they are pressed in all the way. Before I installed the new bearings I made sure they matched up with the old old bearings. The seals matched up too. What could I be missing? In order are the parts I installed into the trailing arm hub. Inner bearing and retaining clip. Inner seal. Spacer. Outer bearing. Pressed/pulled in the stub axle. Inner race of outer bearing. Brake backing plate. Outer seal housing with seal. Spacer. The outer spacer falls into the seal about 3/16" to 1/4" which means the brake drum gets pressed onto the outer seal. The inner spacer also fits inside the inner seal about 1/16" which means the stub axle is pressed into the inner seal. I must have missed something somewhere but I cannot figure out where it could be. Help! Anyone???

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 2:02 am

This is driving me crazy. I've gone through this repair so many times and I just can't figure this out. This cannot be the normal fit. The rear hub should not have any contact with the seal but as things stand it does. I wonder if the seals I have are the wrong ones. This just doesn't make sense. I guess I'll just have to take it all apart again.

Has anyone out there had this problem? :help:

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:23 am

Tom, Email me and I will give you my number. We can solve this problem in minutes.

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:25 am

Let me see if I understand this correctly. The spacers should be nearly flush with the seals so that the stub axle and the brake drum bear against the spacers, not the seals. Your spacers seem to be 'countersunk' in relation to the seals - the stub axle and brake drum will bear against the seals before they contact the spacers, leading to premature wear of the seals. Sound right? As I recall (better double check, my memory isn't that great), the ball bearings go on the inside, and the roller bearings go on the outside. Is that how you have it? Seems to me you have it right, otherwise I don't think the large snap ring for the inner bearing would go in. Just tryin' to help you think of something!

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:26 am

Sounds like Joseph has if handled. Would you be so kind as to come back and post the results when you get it fixed?

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:53 pm

Yes Lee. Your description is correct.

Your spacers seem to be 'countersunk' in relation to the seals - the stub axle and brake drum will bear against the seals before they contact the spacers...

Joe. I have your number from a previous email. I'll call you asap. What I find in situations like this is that the solution is usually a simple one. Unfortunately I'm so befuddled and I have stared at this for too long to see it clearly. I need a fresh brain.

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 5:04 pm

I went to the local Bugformance store to see if perhaps they could help and left pretty much feeling like an idiot. The problem is still not resolved to my satisfaction and honestly I'm not sure I'm going back to them. I've spent far too much money at their establishment to be treated like I didn't know what I was doing. Joseph's at Sinkyone and won't be back til next week. I'll just put this on hold til then. I'm sure he'll have an answer. At least he won't treat me like an incompetent moron. I know I haven't missed anything. I know the assembly is put together correctly. I've been told by the jerks at Bugformance that the parts are correct. I'm inclined to believe them since the comparison of new vs. old checks out. What is left to conclude is either that this is a normal fit (I still doubt this), or my work is somehow in error (not likely, I'm a professional mechanic), or the parts I started with and reused, ie: seal spacers, inner spacer, even control arm; are of another application and not for my vehicle therefore causing this entire problem.

subimanx · Post by **subimanx** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 4:28 am

does it look like this??

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:03 am

Not in an exploded manner. More like an assembled version. Believe me I've covered about everything. Except a solution. Still

1856 · Post by **1856** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:38 am

Tom, I'll ask Joe to call you tonight ... he's been have'n so much fun piting here at Sinkyone ... :driving: Mark

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:11 pm

No worries mark. What I've come up with, with some help, is that the seals supplied new are indeed different from the ones that originally on the car. The outer lip is turned inward on the old seals and it is turned outward on the new seals. Unfortunately the seals I have are the only ones available. Or so the guys at Bugformance tell me. That's another story altogether. Thanks go out to Tominator who emailed me his observations.

TMc2548 · Post by **TMc2548** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 4:48 am

I was able to get some different seals from jsturtlebuggy that did the trick. Here is a pic of the correct seal.

As you can see it fits much different than the ones I got from the local shop. Pic below.

Be warned. Just because the parts guys say their parts will work doesn't actually mean they really will. Regardless, my axle seals are in and working as designed. Hooray! Moving on...

Manx Club

Rear Stub Axle Fit Dilemma

Rear Stub Axle Fit Dilemma

Local store no help

ready for a call ...