Oil in Brakes - Anyone change an axel seal?

Scotty Dive · Mar 21, 2012

I removed the left brake shoes behind the brake housing on the JD950 (Yanmar 2500/3000?) and it was full of oil. I have not checked the right side but my guess is that the axel oil seal failed on both. Anyone change these out? Hard? Easy?

Also - can the brake shoes be salvaged? they looks great excpet for all of the oil!

winston1 · Mar 21, 2012

I don't know anything definite but as all would expect, I do have something to say.

I know pictures can be misleading but just looking at the John Deere parts sight it would seem atfter removing the brake shoes there should be easy access to pry out the old seal and install a new one without digging any deeper.

I would wonder if the 950 shoes can be turned around and good for another 30 years as are the Yanmars. Maybe just cleaned up with brake cleaner and put back in. Was there adjustment left? Did you have good brake pedal? Could be just the oil slicking things up? Good cleaning and good to go?

Scotty Dive · Mar 21, 2012

I wish I could post pictures from the pdf manual I have...but have not figured that out yet. Looks like I have to remove some of the axel and gears to get to this final drive area. Trying to find the seal now.

Egon · Mar 21, 2012

Sometimes there are bearing issues when seals fail.

Torch on the pads may get rid of some of the oil.

clemsonfor · Mar 21, 2012

Id probly soak the pads with brake cleaner or what egon said to get rid of it. usually they are toast when oil gets on them, thats for an auto, if they get any traction i would still run them on a tractor, they dont do that much anyway and they are pretty pricy even for yanmars!!

Hope that seal comes out easyenough for you, sorry to not be of help.

Just checked Hoye. The brake parts are $152.90 for the JD950. That will probly be cheaper than you can get them from Deere as well.

If you did not know Hoye lists parts for the Deere Yanmars. Go to the bottom of the model list and see John Deere and click it and then select your model for a parts list. He dosen't show parts diagrams like yanmar, probly cause JD has them copyrighted or something and they have a monopoly on that on their site which i think you have to sighn up to view?

kenmac · Mar 21, 2012

clemsonfor said:
Just checked Hoye. The brake parts are $152.90 for the JD950. That will probly be cheaper than you can get them from Deere as well.

Had mine relined a few months back $95.00. Took about 3 days

Good luck on the seal replacment. I have never replaced 1

Scotty Dive · Mar 21, 2012

I am going to try to salvage the pads...there is a lot of meat to them and if I can get the oil out it will save me $150+. I did call Hoye for the seals but they didn't carry them. I got them at a place called Weavers....Here is a shot of the brake drum housing soaked in oil and the housing that has to be removed next.

kenmac · Mar 21, 2012

I removed that drum on mine & put it in the glass bead machine to clean it up. I like to have never gotten it off. Yours should come off easy since, it's been covered in oil

winston1 · Mar 22, 2012

I think your seal is right behind that brake drum and should easily pry out. Of course, the brake drum may be stubborn.

chriswheeler · Mar 22, 2012

I just had my drums off my YM 3000, exactly same setup as your 950. Just remove the nut, drum is splined to that shaft, slips off fairly easy. Thinking I did see the seal right behind the drum, but to be honest, both of mine weren't leaking and didn't have to change any seals. Just cleaned up the drums and reinstalled. Thinking if you are going to change a seal, be sure to drain the hyd oil first, could have a mess if you didn't. Use a resporator when working on this stuff, sure to be asbestos.
Chris