axle question

[ScottMH]

i have a 1972 mustang that i am replacing the axle seals on. i was inspecting under the car and i noticed streaks on my rear tire. i asuumed it was the brakes but after tearing it down i found it was the axle leaking. my question is what tool do i need to get the seal inside the axle tube out? do i need a slide hammer? also, how would i go about installing the new one?


one more quick question. i want to drain whatever oil is left in the axle housing, is there a drain plug i am missing or do i have to take the third member out to drain the oil?

 

[D.Hearne]

There's rarely a drain plug for the axle. You need a seal puller to remove the seal, it's basically a hammer handle with a hook on the end to reach into the housing to hook the seal. New seal can be driven in with a broad flat punch, or any other similar shaped object. If there's no drain plug, the best way to completely drain the rear is pull the chunk. You'll need a new chunk gasket and copper crush washers for the studs. (if you go back without these, you could get seapage from around the studs.

 

[ScottMH]

There's rarely a drain plug for the axle. You need a seal puller to remove the seal, it's basically a hammer handle with a hook on the end to reach into the housing to hook the seal. New seal can be driven in with a broad flat punch, or any other similar shaped object. If there's no drain plug, the best way to completely drain the rear is pull the chunk. You'll need a new chunk gasket and copper crush washers for the studs. (if you go back without these, you could get seapage from around the studs.

so is the a fill plug? also, i would have to pull the other axle correct?

 

[D.Hearne]

Fill plug is on the driver's side of the center section above the horizontal webbing. It's removed with a 3/8" ratchet. If you pull the chunk, both axles will need to come out.

 

[zookeeper]

A little side note for future reference is that some Ford axles have the fill plug in the housing, while others have it in the gear carrier. If you mix and match gears and housings, you could wind up with no filler at all, in which case you get to add it through the axle tube and measure the amount you pour in, since the fill plug also doubles as a level plug.