97 ram frnt axle seal?

[dangerdawg]

97 ram 2500 w/ cummins 4wd front axle seal drivers side seeping, anybody change 1 out recently? trying to get a heads-up gonna change it out on....labor day, of course...don't get a day off, what's new?          thanks in advance. daily driver, gotta get it done in 1 shot, hopefully, maybe, 

[70dust]

Remove brake caliper,rotor,hub bearing.Slide out axle and replace the seal.leave one bolt in rear of hub bearing,turn wheel to the lock to break free.Or a BFH and  pry bar.good luck.

[71Swinger]

The seals are installed from the inside.  BOTH rotors, calipers, hub assemblies must come out, also the vaccum servo for the 4X4 (note direction of sleeve that gets moved by servo fork), remove diff cover and carrier caps, remove both axles and remove diff carrier.

Drivers side seal is right behind the carrier and passenger is in the area where the servo bolts to.  The seals are pulled or pressed in from the back side of the seal (think of hammering a normal seal in... but now it is from the other side with a thin lip) kinda  a pain without a tool to aid in installation.  I made a driver (it is at work) that pushes on th inside of the metal area of the seal- not the lip.

One can pull the seal in with some ready rod ( threaded rod), a larger washer and nuts.  Wish I had a pic for you.

If it is just seeping leave it.  If it is dripping then do both, since it will leak when you touch it ( they seam to leak whenever the hubs are removed)

I think it took me 2??? hours to do mine (shop with air tools, hub puller ( my hubs were already antisezed) and experience.

Good luck

Don

[dangerdawg]

the seals are closer to the diff inside the tubes? do i need a spreader? i have a service manuel, and that's kinda what i read? 

[dangerdawg]

haven't done this yet for lack of info, anrbody else care to comment?