Changing front axle seals on BX

[CharlieKtractor]

thank you for the pics and great write up

 

[Tollster]

VISUAL TEST: If you recall, I changed the seals last week, and now this week, what do you see on the same outer bevel gear hub? HINT: I will not be adding talcum powder for better resolution.

 

[Rfisher7381]

Ain't that a PITA! I always hate having to do jobs twice

 

[Tollster]

The hub is cracked, its very tight and runs circumferentially around the hub, here you see oil seeping from that crack. the crack is above the seal, so it very well may not have been the seal at all.

you can see a potion of the seal in the photo around the 8 o'clock position on the mirror, the mirror is showing the back side of the hub assembly.

 

[Tollster]

Talcum powder by the way is an old way to find a crack not visible to the naked eye. You simple apply a light machine oil to the part and let it sit 10 minutes, then wipe off the excess oil with a CLEAN rag, get another clean rag and apply a non oil base remover, such as rubbing alcohol, but don't saturated the rag. LIGHTLY wipe away the excess oil from the exposed surface, wait 5 minutes, then sprinkle baby powder onto the surface, then hold at a right angle to let the excess fall away.
The idea is the oil will saturate the crack, and the talcum powder will draw it out to the surface, making it more visible to the eye. If it holds powder, its cracked, if you doubt it, re-examine.

Old Indian Trick for the farm and the beginning of Dye Penetrant Examinations currently used in Nuclear inspections..

New inner hub ran 206.00 from Messicks...

 

[Tollster]

I did a dye penetrant exam on the area in question today, it revealed a stress induced 4" linear crack as you can see in the picture.
I have included a picture of the cracked front left bevel gear case. It was originally though to be a seal issue, but after installing new seal and reassembling, the leak continued. I cannot say the brotek front axle extensions are the direct cause, however, within 2 months of installation, the leak soon developed.
It is my professional opinion as a Nuclear inspector that the added leverage combined with repetitive use of the FEL was a direct contributor to the stress related failure of the cast bevel gear case.

Crack is tight in nature and seen here using a visible dye penetrant examination.

~Tol

 

[Bwana]

Found this post most helpful but just curious, what is the trick to getting the snap rings back on? I've been fighting with them for over an hour.

 

[kw22614]

Use the largest and correct end snap ring pliers you can find

 

[Tollster]

Be sure you have the lower assembly fully seated with your jack (Ask me how I know), then I kept trying to get the back of the clip seated, it took me a while as well, seems as if I used a large flat screw driver along the lines of getting it seated.
Mine pliers where not big enough either, NAPA's largest automotive... 43.00 and change, replaceable tips.

 

[Bwana]

Be sure you have the lower assembly fully seated with your jack (Ask me how I know), then I kept trying to get the back of the clip seated, it took me a while as well, seems as if I used a large flat screw driver along the lines of getting it seated.
Mine pliers where not big enough either, NAPA's largest automotive... 43.00 and change, replaceable tips.

The screwdriver alone wasn't doing the trick but a long-handled needle-nosed plier with a 45 degree end did the trick in that it allowed me to push the split ring up on the backside of the shaft.