How to get the axle seals out of 37 ford???

My son is trying to put new axles seals in his 37 ford. The ones that are about 4" inboard from the brake flange. He has the rear end all apart, and was trying to pound it out from the inside, but figured that won't work because the outer end of the axle tube is smaller than the seal. Do they just get driven out from the outside in, or what is the process? Thanks, joel

 

Yep drive towards the center.

 

You're doing it right, pound harder. (that's what she said...)

 

The seals are driven into the axle tubes dfrom the large end....they have to be driven out from the small end. You can make a simple tool using threaded rod 5/8" or so with a nut, a washer slightly larger than the new seal and a turned down nut that fits into the center of the seal. Use lots of white grease on the new seal, and then use a BFH to drive it home! Good Luck.

 

When you pull the axle housings off of the banjo housing be careful. The pinion to ring gear spacing is set by the axle housing gaskets. Most early Ford stores sell gasket sets with different thickness gaskets. Measure existing gasket with veneir caliper.

 

Thanks alot for the help! He got the old seals out, and the new ones are in. We got some gaskets of various thicknesses for Little Dearborn, so hopefully tommorrow he will get the bearing preload and the backlash dialed in and get this thing back in the truck!