OEM Axle issues.....need help please!

[blazzin1]

Hey Guys, I need some advice/troubleshooting help. I upgraded my rear end last Winter with 3.91's, True-Trac, and Billet main caps. Of course, I replaced the axle seals at that time. I used the newer part number seals mentioned in the TSB about the axle noise. Since then I've only put about 2800 miles on the car. A couple months after the upgrade, I noticed my driver-side axle seal leaking. It wan't bad, only a couple drops after a couple days of sitting. I didn't mess with it all Summer, just made sure my fluid level was good. It was a very minor leak. Anyway, I took the axle out last night with the intention of just replacing the seal. I found the inside of the axle seal completely separated from the outer ring. There were little pieces of black rubber everywhere. And the worst part, it looks like the inner dished cup on the stock axle has been pushing in and rubbing on the rear end housing. Besides destroying the axle seal, it has worn a groove on the flange around the axle seal about 1/16" deep. What would cause the axle to push inward towards the rear end? I'm hoping that I can just clean up the edge around where the axle seal sits with a dremel or something to get rid of the extremely sharp edge and put in a new seal. But I would like to make sure whatever caused this is fixed!!! The axle seal is supposed to be installed with the inner "ring-spring" facing the inside of the rear end, right??? I haven't taken apart the passenger-side yet since it wasn't leaking. Kind of hard to show the damage in the pictures. But on the axle pic, I am pointing with a screwdriver to the dished cup that is pushing in and wearing a groove in the rear end. Anyone ever see this before?

Thanks in advance....

[csjcsj]

Take your question here!

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304257

Might get answered faster!

[Driveshaftshop]

Thats a very odd thing, did you have to pry the inner CV out. if the snap ring was in the diff it would push on the ring not the seal.

[blazzin1]

Originally Posted by Driveshaftshop

Thats a very odd thing, did you have to pry the inner CV out. if the snap ring was in the diff it would push on the ring not the seal.

No, I didn't have to pry anything to get the axle out, just a simple tug, and it popped right out.

[blazzin1]

Thanks Tim, I'm not sure what caused this. I did have the seal installed the right way, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy. And the rubbing of the axle ring on the rear end housing seems to be fairly uniform all the way around. I didn't see any bends in mine, yours must be from removal, like you mentioned. It's almost like the axle was too far in, although with all the suspension bolted up to the hub, I'm not sure how that would even be possible. It's definitely weird!!! I guess about the only thing I can do is put everything back together and hope it doesn't continue!!! I'm going to try to clean up the edge where the seal sits, and hopefully give it a little chamfer with a dremel, so I can get a new seal in there. And I guess we'll go from there. I know when we were putting everything back together last time (when I upgraded the rear end), we had a heck of a time getting the axles to seat far enough in the rear end. To the point that we had to use a block of wood on the end of axle (by the outer nut) and give it a couple good "whacks" to get the C-clip to fully engage. But I remember the passenger side gave us a much harder time than the driver side. And so far, the passenger side is fine.....well, no leaks anyway. Maybe I should take it apart to just to inspect?!?!?!? Thanks for all the advice and tips, it'll give me some things to look for.

[2SSCAMARO]

Originally Posted by blazzin1

Thanks Tim, I'm not sure what caused this. I did have the seal installed the right way, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy. And the rubbing of the axle ring on the rear end housing seems to be fairly uniform all the way around. I didn't see any bends in mine, yours must be from removal, like you mentioned. It's almost like the axle was too far in, although with all the suspension bolted up to the hub, I'm not sure how that would even be possible. It's definitely weird!!! I guess about the only thing I can do is put everything back together and hope it doesn't continue!!! I'm going to try to clean up the edge where the seal sits, and hopefully give it a little chamfer with a dremel, so I can get a new seal in there. And I guess we'll go from there. I know when we were putting everything back together last time (when I upgraded the rear end), we had a heck of a time getting the axles to seat far enough in the rear end. To the point that we had to use a block of wood on the end of axle (by the outer nut) and give it a couple good "whacks" to get the C-clip to fully engage. But I remember the passenger side gave us a much harder time than the driver side. And so far, the passenger side is fine.....well, no leaks anyway. Maybe I should take it apart to just to inspect?!?!?!? Thanks for all the advice and tips, it'll give me some things to look for.

If the axle ring kind of hangs down a bit while you are trying to insert the axle, it can get caught up at the ring groove in the differential. Put some heavy grease on the axle ring and groove on the spline. This will keep the ring centered while you insert the axle. It should slide nicely.

[blazzin1]

Originally Posted by HRD_WRK

Is there any chance that the Eaton is installed ever so slightly favored to the passenger side, causing the driver axle to have to seat deep enough to get C Clip to expand, but causing the metal axle ring to rub against the seal?

With the stock shims utilized on either side of the True-Trac, I'm not sure how the carrier could be off center, but it is definitely something to look at. I'll have to take some measurements to get a better idea.
Or could the entire driver axle been forced deeper into the Diff temporarily untill the alignment was done (I believe yours were adjustable-not fixed)?

I was wondering about this too. I did drive it for a little while before the alignment was accomplished. But I was told it didn't need much adjustment, so it had to be fairly close.

I think you should look at the other side and perhaps depth gage them both from Diff face to C clip catch point.

I'll take some measurements as soon as possible and let you know....

Curious also as to just how tight the axle metal ring gets to the seals when using the Eaton. Perhaps the axle spline/ C Clip is little short on the Stocker. Maybe Eaton has some feedback, since its not highly common on the 5th Gen to change to Eaton but retain the stock axles.

My aftermarket axles dont have that ring. It seams like a good idea for debris/water sheild (mine not DD), but not if the spacing tolerance is too tight to risk damage.
Just change axles- problem solved

I like this solution best of all!!! But now....I'm gonna have to rob a bank!!!

Tim

[blazzin1]

Originally Posted by 2SSCAMARO

If the axle ring kind of hangs down a bit while you are trying to insert the axle, it can get caught up at the ring groove in the differential. Put some heavy grease on the axle ring and groove on the spline. This will keep the ring centered while you insert the axle. It should slide nicely.

I will definitely try this next time!!! Thanks!!!

[blazzin1]

Okay, so today, I go and clean up the channel in the rear end housing for the oil seal. Put a new oil seal in, and put everything back together....well, almost everything. I can't get the Trailing Arm outer bolt to line back up!!! I didn't touch any of the inner suspension mount bolts on purpose, because I didn't want to mess up the alignment. I did have the hub removed from the rear spindle (replaced the wheel studs). Everything lined up except for the Trailing Arm, which is about 3/4 to 1" off!!!! I don't understand how the trailing arm could be that far off, especially if the lower control arm and toe rod hooked up without any problems!!! Am I missing something here???? My suspension is at "full_hang" (up on jackstands). Maybe I should try jacking up the suspension and see if it will line up better??? But if this trailing arm was hooked up like this, maybe that would explain why the axle was pushing into the rear end housing??? Anybody got any ideas???

[ssmike]

Put a jack under the hub assembly and jack it up until you can get the TA to line up. Maybe it's just sagging too low.

[ssmike]

Another suggestion would be to undo everything and re-assemble the trailing arm first, then toe link, then UCA, then LCA, then attach the shock to the LCA.

[blazzin1]

Thanks very much for the suggestions guys! I will try re-assembling in a different order, and if that doesn't work, I'll jack up the spindle/knuckle and see what that does for me. It just doesn't seem feasible that it would hook up at all being so far off, but I'll give it a try.

Thanks!!!

[MANNYS2SS/RS]

Originally Posted by blazzin1

Thanks very much for the suggestions guys! I will try re-assembling in a different order, and if that doesn't work, I'll jack up the spindle/knuckle and see what that does for me. It just doesn't seem feasible that it would hook up at all being so far off, but I'll give it a try.

Thanks!!!

It is a pain to line up some times. Make sure you put the car in neutral and release your E-brake to give the suspension a little bit of movement. Good luck

[blazzin1]

Thanks for the tip Manny, I couldn't mess with it yesterday, but I'm going to try to get it put back together this week sometime, I'll let you guys know how it turns out.