1961 Lesabre - Axle seals leaking

Actually found this trying to solve a brake problem (lost pedal - have narrowed that down to booster or master cylinder)

But while pulling all 4 tyres and brakes to check for leaks, when I pulled both rears and the drums there was this sludge all over the inside of the drums. It's not brake fluid and hasn't come from the drum cylinders, they are clean, pics below.

It's a very think sludge, almost like grease. It looks like it's leaking from the axles.

I'm in Australia, so I need to ensure I get the right bearings and seals. Where's the best place to source bearings and seals for a 1961 Lesabre axle ?

 

Is the seal bad on one side, or both? I have an extra seal here that you can have cheap if you cover shipping. I think they are about $15 normally. Otherwise they are available at most local auto part stores here in the US. Your bearings are likely ok. Once you remove the axles it should be pretty apparent if you spin them. The bearing for the '61-'62 rear end are relatively spendy compared to the later axles, at about $100 a piece.

 

Thanks Andy, the seals are leaking on both sides, but the right hand side is by far the worst.

I think it's over work. Car had done 46,000 miles in it's first 52 years on the road. Then in the last year I did 18,000 miles in the one year (it's my daily driver).

So I've been progressively fixing stuff that breaks, lots of little stuff.

On the seals, can they be replaced without having to replace the bearing, and do the seals need to be pressed in ?

 

All bearings older than 1968 are sealed bearings MEANING they do not get oiled from the differential fluid. SO the axle seal is pressed into the HOUSING tube end ...NOT on the axle shaft. So if the bearings are good just replace and clean up the mess and reinstall the axles with the bearing and your good to go again.

 

Cool just like my full floaters on my Camaro

 

Correct. Pull the axle shafts, put in the new seals, and your good to go. There is an "o-ring" seal on the bearings themselves, but those are only suppose to be a secondary seal.

 

Is your Camaro a circle track car? Full floater means you can remove the axle shaft with out removing the tire. Like a 1 ton truck - You can have the tire on the ground and you can pull the axle shaft out of the rear housing it bolts in totally independent of the axle tube flange. There are no bearings pressed or riding on the axle... . Jim

J D

 

I also have a rear seal leak on my 62 rear. Do I need to have the seals pressed out? Or is this something I can do in my driveway.
I had a brake shop tell me one was shot, they thought they were needing to be pressed out but weren't sure until they got in there. I would prefer to do it myself but am limited on tools like a press. Although I could have that done if needed

 

The seals are pressed into the axle tube. You don't actually need a press to do this though. A socket or something similar (same OD as seal) can be used, along with a hammer, to install the seal.

 

Ok so this is awesome! Just remove axles and assuming bearing is in good shape just replace seals, clean, and reinstall axles!?

 

Correct. Remove the wheels, drums, and axles. Pull out the old seals, drive in the new seals, and re-assemble.

 

Great sounds like an afternoon job, along with replacing rear brakes anyways, and getting rid of the left hand thread studs on the driver side all in one setting. Thanks!

 

Frankie, funny you should mention left hand threads. So I haven't got around to doing the seals yet. They are sitting on my study desk and I will be doing them Sun this coming weekend.

One thing that has been annoying me is the left hand down threads on the drivers side (rear only, I have discs up front). I just thought that someone must have replaced the right hand side but not the left. Are you telling me that it's stock left hand down on drivers side.

I'm still hunting new read wheel studs.

I reckon I can replace the axle seals in under 2 hours. It will take me longer to jack her up remove the wheels and clean all the sludge out than it will to replace the seals themselves

 

Once brake linings get ANY oil on them they need to be replaced. NO WAY to remove the oil that's been impregnated into the lining material.

 

Correct, driver side has LH wheel studs, passenger side had RH wheel studs.

 

Yep LHT on the drivers side. Chrome shank lugs for those are expensive, not to mention difficult to find, for the supreme wheels I plan on rolling. So to make it easier for everyone I'm switching to RHT.