'86 turbo rear wheel inner bearing seal replacement

[tasturbo86]

Can I replace the inner rear wheel bearing SEAL from the inside?
Hoping I don't have to go through a full bearing replacement.
The car only has about 30,000 miles on it.

As I was replacing the entire CV axle assembly, I pulled the 'drive shaft' that the CV joint bolts to. That gave me a view of the inner seal and the inner bearing in the first picture. I see what appears to be a spring that normally would keep the seal lip in contact with the drive shaft.
If that IS the spring, It would be a good idea to replace the seal.
The bearing replacement 'how to' article doesn't mention when/how to replace the seal.

You can see the spring peeking out at the bottom of the seal.



Number 12 in the picture below

[tasturbo86]

I tried to get the springs (both seals are bad) back in place to no avail.
It looks like the seal DOES install from the inside of the trailing arm, so I don't have to remove the bearings to replace them.
The OD of the replacement seal is 81.2mm and I see that same diameter from my inside view.
I guess I'll go ahead and pull/pry/beat the seals out today. It may be tricky to install the new seals. If they don't tap in easily, I'll craft something to pull them in from the outside. Maybe using the drive shaft. Worst case, I'll remove the trailing arms. If I have to do that, it will make sense to do the bearings.
The joys of owning a 35 year old classic!

[dap930]

If you bearings were not making any noise and have no excessive endplay, then you should be able to just replace the seals. The inner seal failed on mine which allowed dirt to get into the bearing destroying it. You should be able to remove the seal with seal removal tool and install it using something about the same size as the seal to tap it in. I used a Harbor Freight bearing and seal removal/installation set to do mine. You can wipe as much of the old grease as possible and reapply new grease. Here is a picture of mine with new bearings and new grease seal installed.

[Alan L]

But Dennis - now he has pulled the inner shaft the bearing assembly will need re torquing back to the original marks? If he has them.
Yes the seal flicks out easily with a seal pick.
Alan

[tasturbo86]

You are both right - the seal came out easily.
Unfortunately, the right rear probably needs bearings.
Any tips would be appreciated.
I think the 'how to' article mentions additional tools/steps for the turbo.

Grease on both was dark and hard. Maybe overheated?
I scraped chunks out before the pic.
Picture below.

[Alan L]

I am doing mine currently - just waiting on parts from Pelican. Seals and crush spacer. I have the bearings - but can't assemble until I get the other bits. Maybe a week away.
I have posted mine a few threads below on this page - 'rear wheel bearing'.
If you search the forum, Dennis has posted an excellent How to. That is what I have been following - with a few mods as I didn't have all the tools he had.
To start - you need a decent slide hammer to pull the outer hub. Took a while for me to figure why so hard to pull. But the shaft of the outer hub is locked on to the inner bearing. You have to tear them apart basically. Then the outer hub falls out. You have the inner hub out already. Then the inner bearing falls out - you just separated it when you pulled the outer hub. Then you need to separate the outer bearing off the outer hub - not the easiest job. You need a tool like in Dennis' thread. I partly made one. Then you are all torn down - waiting to cleanup and get new parts. Then comes the fun bit - reassembly and clearance setting.
Alan

[Alan L]

Forgot to mention - once you have both hubs out and the bearings removed - you still have two bearing cones stuck in the trailing arm. Dennis shows how to pull those out - I basically followed his method - but with some home made inserts to pull on. You could probably try tapping them out from their respective 'insides'. You just need to be careful not to mark the housing where the cones sit. Mine had previously been done this way and there are a couple of marks. If you follow the method shown by Dennis there is no danger of this.
Alan

[smurfbus]

Is that the cone where some mig or inverter arching on the cone could help shrinking the cone. IMO, this was one of the most awkward jobs I have done to my car sofar. Takes time, reading and sweat.

IIRC, I used air saw on the inner cone too to release some tension.

[Alan L]

Correct.
Alan