KIC Catalog

the seal must be properly installed using tools designed

for the purpose; and fourth, bearing end play must be

properly adjusted.

The contact surfaces where the new seal will be in-

stalled must be free from rust, scale, old sealant, nicks,

burrs, and any roughness that would prevent a good

seal. Clean contact surfaces with scrapers that are soft-

er than the hub material to avoid scratching the hub or

seal bore. When cleaning aluminum hubs, use non-me-

tallic scrapers to prevent damage.

Inspecting and Preparing the Hub Bore—

1. Inspect the bore into which the seal fits. Check

for nicks or gouges that could cause leakage.

Sharp corners at the bore entrance can score

the seal O.D. when it is pressed in and can

cause oil leakage.

2. Remove any rust, scale, old sealant, and rough-

nesswith a scraper. Then use fine emery or cro-

cus cloth for a final cleaning. If there are any

deep grooves, fill them in with a hardening gas-

ket material. Redress the filled area with emery

or crocus cloth.

3. Sharp edges on the bore entrance should be

chamfered or rounded off with a scraper, then

carefully smoothed with an abrasive cloth.

4. Thoroughly clean and dry the entire area. Make

certain it is completely free of dirt, grit, chips, or

other abrasives which will score or mar the seal’s

outer surface and cause leakage. 5. Be sure all

oil is removed from the lubricant cavity. Wipe the

cavity clean using a clean, dry cloth.

6. In the event of wheel bearing failure or severe

contamination (by sand, grit, water, metal etc.),

the lubricant cavity should be flushed of the old

lubricant and refilled with clean lubricant.

Inspecting and Preparing the Spindle—

1. Thoroughly clean the spindle with solvent and a

clean, dry shop rag, then examine the spindle for

flaws.

2. Remove any rust, old sealant, and roughness

with a scraper and use crocus cloth to polish the

spindle area that contacts the sealing surface.

Fill deep scratches or chisel marks with a hard-

ening gasket material and redress the damaged

area. Clean all threads and keyways thoroughly

with a wire brush to avoid false bearing adjust-

ment and to avoid introduction of contaminants

into the lubricant cavity.

3. Sharp edges on the lead-in chamfer on the seal’s

bearing shoulder should be rounded off with a

file or oilstone.

4. Wipe the entire spindle surface with a clean, dry

cloth, making certain the spindle is completely

free of dirt, grit, chips, or other abrasives which

could damage the seal’s inner surface and cause

oil leakage. Clean all threads and keyways.

5. Apply a thin coat of non-hardening sealant to the

axle shoulder when installing sealing systems

which employ an axle ring or wear sleeve.

Bearing Inspection

—A bearing which has been re-

moved from a vehicle should be cleaned with solvent.

Steam or water will rust bearings and should never be

used.

Bearings that are rusted, flaked, pitted, or have dam-

aged cages should be replaced. It is wise to replace all

questionable bearings and always replace the cup and

cone as a matched set. Never reassemble a tapered

roller bearing in a damaged or worn housing or on dam-

aged or worn spindles.

Housing spindles should not be remachined if the bear-

ing journal is worn. Contact your OEM/axle supplier if

wear is present. After the cleaned bearing has been in-

spected and found to be satisfactory, it should be dipped

in axle lubricant and wrapped in clean oil paper if not

used immediately.

Replacement bearings should be stored in a clean, dry

place and should not be removed from their cartons ntil

ready for use. There is no need to remove the rust pre-

ventative coating from new bearings upon installation.

After a new bearing has been removed from the carton

and wrapper, it should be immediately installed on the

vehicle. Never place bearings on a floor or a dirty work-

bench, or in a dirty wash tank. Do not leave them ex-

posed in open trays, pans, or cabinets where dirt, dust,

and moisture can reach them.

Preparing the Seal for Installation—

1. Carefully examine the new seal for any evidence

of damage or careless handling.

2. Some seals are lubricated before packaging to

prevent rusting or oxidation during storage. Do

not remove this factory lubrication. Other seals

may require lubrication before installation. Fol-

low the seal manufacturer’s recommendation. If

lubrication is needed, use a light film of wheel

Wheel Seal and Bearing Removal, Installation & Maintenance