Right rear axle seal leaking has vertical bearing play

Tiny
ERIC888
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 177,000 MILES
The right rear axle seal is leaking, the brake shoes are soaked with gear oil, and there seems to be an excessive amount of vertical play at the bearing behind the seal. How much vertical play is acceptable? I plan on changing out the seal but need to know if I should change out the bearing also. The left side barely has any vertical play and the seal shows that it is just starting to leak.
Thursday, September 21st, 2017 AT 3:26 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
You definitely have to replace the bearing and possibly the axle also. The bad bearing is what ruined the seal. A new seal will just leak again.
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Thursday, September 21st, 2017 AT 6:10 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,945 POSTS
Ideally you want zero play but I will let.001or so go as long as the axle is not showing any damage.
Be careful if you need a replacement axle, I would go to a yard for a used one before I trust most of the new ones. As you are going to be changing one, you may want to do both. And if the backer plates are rusty/worn, now would be a good time for those as well.
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Thursday, September 21st, 2017 AT 7:07 PM

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