[JunkyCJ]

Hi first post,
I bought a 92 ramcharger and the front drivers side axle is leaking how many seals are in this side of the axle? also how difficult are they to replace?I am a little worried about all the vacuum motor stuff over there I dont want to tear it apart and not get it back correctly.Thanks,
Chris M.
[email protected]

 

[KThaxton]

Welcome to the site.
It's not that hard of a job if you are a least slightly mechanically inclined. Here's what you do: (hope I don't forget anything)
-Remove brake caliper and hang from wire (not brake hose!)
-Pop chrome dust cap off of hub
-Remove snap ring
-Pull sprocket gear out and spacer ring
-Use special 4 prong hub socket (available at most parts stores) and remove bearing locknut
-Remove retaining washer, then adjusting nut
-Pull hub and rotor assembly off (catch outer bearing so it doesn't get damaged)
-Remove 6 spindle nuts, tap spindle gently on two sides with a soft face hammer until it is free then remove it
-Remove caliper adapter from knuckle (the part that the caliper was mounted to) to allow u-joint to pass.
-Gently pull axle shaft out, then you have access to the seal.
When you re-asseble it, you may have to pull the CAD housing cover off to engage the shafts with the slip collar, but this is usually a simple task.
Also, with a job like this, replace ALL seals, and change the u-joints while you're there, and consider bearings also.

 

[JunkyCJ]

Well that is my problem I pulled the axle out when I was repacking wheel bearings and replacing ball joints and tie rod ends. I looked in the axle tube and saw the bearing that goes in the end of the outer axle shaft is the seal i'm looking for closer to the diff than that??Or is there a seal missing completely the hanes manual kind of shows one on the axle itself but that didnt look right.Thanks

 

[KThaxton]

Well that is my problem I pulled the axle out when I was repacking wheel bearings and replacing ball joints and tie rod ends. I looked in the axle tube and saw the bearing that goes in the end of the outer axle shaft is the seal i'm looking for closer to the diff than that??Or is there a seal missing completely the hanes manual kind of shows one on the axle itself but that didnt look right.Thanks

On the drivers side, the axle is sealed at the outside end of the axle tube, right there at the axle yoke. The entire left side of your axle housing is bathed with the same gear oil that your dif is.
Now on the passenger side, the seal is right next to the dif housing. Make sense?

 

[JunkyCJ]

Now it does thanks,there is nothing on the end of the tube to stop the lube from running right out there is a groove in the end of the tube that I thougnt looked like something was suppost to be there Thanks again,

 

[KThaxton]

Now it does thanks,there is nothing on the end of the tube to stop the lube from running right out there is a groove in the end of the tube that I thougnt looked like something was suppost to be there Thanks again,

There's no seal? This is the driver's side, the same side that has the cad unit correct? Are you sure the seal isn't just caked with dirt and oil making it not look like a seal??

 

[JunkyCJ]

Im pretty sure theres no seal there i didnt see one does it go in between the ring that is around the back of the u joints and the axle tube?

 

[KThaxton]

Im pretty sure theres no seal there i didnt see one does it go in between the ring that is around the back of the u joints and the axle tube?

Well, sort of.
Do you see the bearing at the very end of your axle tube? The seal is mounted just outboard of that bearing.

 

[JunkyCJ]

There wes definatly no bearing on the end of the axle tube.There is nothing from my u-joints back to the cad unit inside the axle.or on the axle

 

[KThaxton]

Okay, I'm definatley confused here, Either your RC has suffered major neglect, or there is something that you or I am missing, or mis-communicating.
Go to this link:
http://ramchargercentral.com/boards/index.php?board=104;action=display;threadid=33098
There is a diagram of the cad side of the axle, you'll see a bearing and a seal on the right hand side. Is your axle not like this??

 

[Scoots]

KT, mine isn't like that diagram either on my 88. My oil seal is located almost directly under the CAD vacuum diaphragm.
Junky, if yours is like mine you need to follow the directions above and remove your intermediate axle, drive the seal inwards to the carrier and then rent the tool or try your best to carefully get the seal in the same direction it came out. If I remember correctly, its a lot easier with the inner axle removed also, may be wrong on that one its been a while.
Good luck

 

[KThaxton]

Ahhhhh! That makes sense, I knew there had to be something I was missing. I thought they didn't make that change until 94. Live and learn. Thanks for clearing that up scoots.

 

[Scoots]

Glad to help.

How did it go, junky? Did you get it taken care of yet? good thing its that side and not the pass, what a biotch that one is!

 

[JunkyCJ]

Well I haven't had time to fix it yet but I am going to this weekend.Thanks for clearing that up for us.Now what does the seal look like and where can I find it is it a dealer item if you ask the peeps and auto zone or napa they look at you like you are on crack and always try to hand you the seal for the wheel bearings. Thanks

 

[Scoots]

Yeah, seems Dodge D44 seals are the bastard seals of the parts stores.
I cant remember where but the part #'s were on this site somewhere, if that dont work just knock it out and take it to the parts store. If they cant cross reference it by the part # on the seal they need to go get there McDee's job back. :-D.

Good luck again.

 

[JunkyCJ]

Yea that sounds like the plan or just go to the dealer I know the part will be right then.Thanks a million