Dana 30 Seal Question

[Project Comanche]

Went wheeling early this memorial weekend. The trip was cut short with a broken axle shaft and u-joint. I am wondering if I need to look at the seal to replace it or if it is still good. Also would this be something I would kick myself for not checking and it would come back to bite me?

 

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/27/sa7ydy2e.jpg

 

[Dillithium]

It looks to be the driver's side U joint, to replace that seal the carrier will need to come out.

As far as necessity, it depends on your luck. I've read on here that some people break seals whenever they take the half shafts out, others have never had to replace it. Considering the work that needs to be done to get to it, I would take the gamble and gently put the halfshaft back in. If it wasn't leaking before, let's hope it doesn't start now  :thumbsup:

[Project Comanche]

I took a look and it wasn't quite round... ECGS got me what I needed plus another seal for the passenger side because of the one piece axle conversion.

[mvusse]

I have never broken an axle shaft or u joint in a D30 (more than 20 of them) without it damaging the seal in the process.

[Project Comanche]

Since I am using tj style shafts and eliminating the vac disconnect, for the vac disco side how many seals should there be? A few different write-ups I have found online place a seal just outside of vac disconnect area while others place an inner seal in the mirrored location of the short shaft side. Some say the vac disco side has two seals. Are all of these correct or all plausible options? Any opinion/experience would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

I am getting these axles installed to get the rig back on the trail for upcoming events but I'm looking to get some chromo axles. Any recommendations on specific brands/types?

[Automan2164]

I would just replace the seals. You should probably put a seal in to mirror the drivers side on the passenger side. If you just rely on the seal that was in the disconnect, it's not going to work. The TJ shafts don't have the seal surface mid shaft because they never needed it.

 

Rob

[88whitemanche]

....part 1

 

...part 2

 

He gets his stuff from rustys offroad website which the kit includes the inner seal that needs to be exchanged to fit the axle shafts and block off plate for the cad....