Dana 30 1 piece axle seal

[Warthog]

Ok been pondering this a few days. From what I understand when you go to a 1 piece axle instead of a 2 piece axle shaft there isn’t really a spot for the seal on the passenger side. Rather than half @$$ dremelin in a spot, or sending it down the pumpkin tube with no place to bump up to, why can’t you send it down the outside axle shaft of the tube and have it bump up against the outside shaft seal? It would give it a stop plus would hold it in place not allowing it to shimmy so to speak and fail? Or better yet does anyone make an outside seal with the inside axle dimensions? Has anyone tried this? 

[ghetdjc320]

A seal can be installed carefully in that area. Some even install two. There’s not an issue really with the seal moving down the tube as it press fits into it but it can be a challenge to get it perfectly square and set it correctly without damaging it. As for outing a seal further down the tube, the axle shaft itself isn’t machined smooth in that area and can tear up a seal. There is no outer seal on a dana 30 front axle. Some install tube seals near the end but it has been proven many times now that they will do nothing to prevent oil from leaking if used an oil seals. Not to mention, the diff just wasn’t designed to slosh volumes of oil down those tubes like most rear axles are. Plus there is a bit of axle shaft deflection when turning near the end of the tube which would ruin a traditional oil seal.

There is a perfect solution for this situation though. Seals-it economy axle tube seals. They fit the ID of the tube and the OD of the axle shaft. They are a double lipped seal and work great. Takes all of 2 minutes to install and doesn’t require any machined surface as it squeezes into the tube itself. Automatically squares itself by design

[PIKE]

Does the Seals-it economy axle tube seal install right up next to the differential bearing in the location of where the seal is in a one piece axle d30 ?  I installed the SKF 11800. Tricky just as you stated but working fine for me.

The seals-it looks like a good solution.

[ghetdjc320]

Yes it does, though technically it can be installed anywhere along the tube as it only relies on the ID of the tube and OD of the axle shaft. It’s a 2 minute install and they never leak. The traditional seal is such a pain to get to if it leaks. 

[PIKE]

Thanks. I can't see it working very well unless installed where a seal would be on the smooth machined surface that is made for a seal to ride on.  The axle shafts I have seen are smaller diameter plus very rough. I would not want to rely on a seal that is on a roughly machined surface.

 

Why do you say the traditional seal is a pain to get to if this one installs in the same place?  

 

I did the SKF 11800 seal and feel that it is the same set up as the factory has for any solid front axle.

 

If you have good luck that's great. I want to have a seal riding on a surface that's machined for a seal.

 

Just me, Thanks

 

 

 

[zomeizter]

When I swapped the 'moly shafts into my axle, the instructions mentioned a seal part number to use and install inside the pumpkin. I also bought a seal installer tool specific for the installation of such seal and it was pretty straight forward. I will give the seals-it a try once I bring my XJ back from New Mexico while I do some upgrades on it, I will report how that goes...

[ghetdjc320]

1 hour ago, PIKE said:

Thanks. I can't see it working very well unless installed where a seal would be on the smooth machined surface that is made for a seal to ride on.  The axle shafts I have seen are smaller diameter plus very rough. I would not want to rely on a seal that is on a roughly machined surface.

 

Why do you say the traditional seal is a pain to get to if this one installs in the same place?  

 

I did the SKF 11800 seal and feel that it is the same set up as the factory has for any solid front axle.

 

If you have good luck that's great. I want to have a seal riding on a surface that's machined for a seal.

 

Just me, Thanks

 

 

 

As i mentioned, it’s difficult to square the seal to the axle shaft and easy to damage it in the process as there is no machined lip on the passenger side of the pumpkin in a cad housing for the seal to ride against. The seals-it and oem single piece seal automatically square themselves. It can still use the same seal surface on the axle shaft but adds a second seal to a smooth clean area of the axle shaft. The reason it’s a pain to get to is because is because you have to drop the carrier. The seals is is just less likely to leak. 

 

Here are pictures of the differences between the 3 seals, skf 11800, oem seal for dana 30 single piece and the seals it. The oem design is great as it guides the axle centered into the seal but won’t fit into the cad axle. I wouldn’t use a seals it seal in a one piece axle housing but in cad housings it’s a nice option. Whatever works 

[PIKE]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I was getting the Seals-it confused with the outer axle seals I have seen. I can see now how it would work very well.

 

If I ever have to go back into my axle to repair the SKF 11800 I will try the Seals-it.

 

[Drahcir495]

On 10/23/2023 at 9:24 PM, ghetdjc320 said:

 

 

Putting these seals in requires that you take out the differential and axles. Then you can press them into the tubes. It will be a challenge getting them in without at least an aluminum puck. Just use a long rod to send down the tubes to knock them in. If you do go to put those in, let me know and I can help you with more details.