Picked up a 64 F85 deluxe a couple of years ago and have been slowly tweaking it to my liking. It developed an axle seal leak so I decide to research what I was in for. It has a casting #402227 which I thought would be for 1970 or newer cutlass or 442. When I pulled the axle , I found the seal in the axle tube like a 67-69 type “0”. I was very happy to see that, installed a seal #13492 from Napa, should be good to go. Found a T3 code on axle tube which I guess denotes 391 ratio for a 1969? Anyways I’m glad That I didn’t have to remove the bearings to replace the seal. Haven’t been able to test drive yet, fingers crossed. Glad to have found this forum, the amount of knowledge and help is unbelievable.

 

Consider your self BLESSED you do not have the Oiled bearing system. They were fine years ago...But with the tapered bearings and seals not being produced to correct specs,. THEY ARE NOTHING but a headache these days.
I avoid them like the plague. 1970-1976 GM Bolt in axle rears.
Remember your sealed bearings only last so long...I would say when you get the money gathered do both axle bearings... If they lock up they will take out your axle shafts... They are pretty readily available and not terribly expensive.

JIm

 

Looks to me like someone was in there, bearing looked and felt like new, the seal that was in there , the neoprene part was a little deeper then the replacement part I installed. It will seal the axle in a different spot than before, maybe an 1/8 of an different.

 

??? I do not have pictures could not tell you...lol.
8594S is the timkin seal number

Seal should ride in the same spot... Might not have it pressed into the axle housing far enough??

 

The metal part of the seal is exactly the same as the old seal , but the neoprene part of the old seal is a little wider so it sits on the axle in a little different spot. Should have taken a pic. Drove around this afternoon , so far so good. Thanks for the insight, I love this forum, good people.

 

Same here.

A recent repair I made was the rear axle seals as it had a slow drip at the passenger side.

Through some research realized it has a W-27 Housing with a casting #402227 but ordering a replacement seal was 100%. Turned out it has early 1970-style diff housing with the previous generation axle, sealed bearing and seal. (seal pressed in axle tube)

Cleaned everything out, replaced the seal and brake shoes as they were saturated with diff oil.

As described here:https://www.supercarsunlimited.com/i...id/diff_id.htm

Please note, over the years we have encountered some very early production 1970 rear ends that utilize the 1967-1969 axle bearings and seals (as well as of course the early style axle shafts and axle tubes).

 

That retaining ring looks awfully long does it hit the seal?
Jim
JD

 

It seated nicely.

Doesn't appear any wider than this reference.