TO-35 Rear Axle Seals

psnart45

Member
Hi All,

I have a 1955 TO-35. When I replaced my brake shoes recently, I saw that there is a small amount of oil weeping from the axle seals. As i looked in the service manual, replacing both the inner and outer seals looks like a pretty big job. I don't have a shop press or puller to help. If I were to just replace the inner seals, would I just be wasting my time? Do I really have to do both the inner and outer seals?

It won't be until Spring now. Getting too cold here!

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
Easiest way, if you don't have a press, is remove the entire axle and take it to a MF dealer or any decent machine shop. They will pull the seal and bearing, replace them both and give you back your axle for a very reasonable fee. The axle will slide out easily. Keep up with the shims and put them back just as you find them. You can slide in the other seal yourself. Do it before you drive more as if you don't the brake shoes will be contaminated and they are not cheap as you probably know by now.
 
I replaced the inner seals on my to 30 and the shop forman at the Massy dealer said that as long as the outer seal was keeping the dirt out of the bearing they only replace the inner seal. He said to just grease the bearing up good before you put it back together.
 
Have you checked that the oil level is not too high? The dipstick may not be the correct one. Remove the bottom screw on one of the round side plates and if oil runs out allow it to run until it stops and then see how it goes after that. Doing this will actually put the oil level slightly low but it will be fine for normal work, only if you were using external hydraulics for a loader or tipping a trailer could it cause problems. You can change just the inner seal as it is easier to get at. You should already have a greaser fitted on your axle housing but if not, just make sure that you pack the bearings with grease before you fit the new seal...John
 
I just did this about a month ago in my garage, you don't need a press or puller. I also know of quite a few shops that do it this way as well.

IIRC -

-Disassemble everything and pull the shaft out.
-Drill the retaining collar, .then split it with a chisel.
-For the bearing, I separated the cage and pulled the rollers out. Then drove hub down the shaft and cut the inner bearing sleeve off afterwards. Another way after cutting the collar off is, many shops tell their techs to take a torch and blow the bearing out.

-After that is just a matter of R&R. I drive all the new parts on with using the old parts on top of the new and a hammer & Punch/wood.


You can get both sides down in a weekend with limited tools.
 
(quoted from post at 01:40:29 03/08/17) What's the process to change just the inner seal?

Remove the wheel and brake drum then remove all the nuts holding the bearing cover to the trumpet housing the axle then pull the axle out.
 
(quoted from post at 14:28:08 12/05/09) Have you checked that the oil level is not too high? The dipstick may not be the correct one. Remove the bottom screw on one of the round side plates and if oil runs out allow it to run until it stops and then see how it goes after that. Doing this will actually put the oil level slightly low but it will be fine for normal work, only if you were using external hydraulics for a loader or tipping a trailer could it cause problems. You can change just the inner seal as it is easier to get at. You should already have a greaser fitted on your axle housing but if not, just make sure that you pack the bearings with grease before you fit the new seal...John
Well hello Sir John, good to see you still enjoy helping with posts.
 

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