Driver side rear wheel on 49 chevy fleetline leaking on wheel . What needs to be done to change this? Does the axel need to come out or can I just drain the diff and pull from wheel side? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
If it's the axle seal leaking, axle needs to come out. http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1949_51/4951csm0402.html
Sounds like your bearing is out. Remove the axle and have a new bearing pressed in. It's not a tough job and I would replace both sides.
I have tried reading the shop manual but makes it sound more difficult then i know it should be. What holds the axels in place? Ive read some axels are held on by bolts on the wheel side and just slide in. Shop manual says you must push axel in to remove c clips. How do you push the axel in with the flange still on the wheel side? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
You first need to remove the 4 bolts (place a pan underneath to catch the oil. Remove the pumpkin cover and remove the clips or whatever is holding the axle to the gears. After that's done, then you'll need a old rim (without the tire) or a big slide puller. Bolt whichever you are using to the rim and use force to pop the axle out. Once it's out, then you can take it to a machine shop or auto shop and have them remove the old bearings and press in the new ones. Go back home, put a new gasket where the 4 bolts mount, tap the axle in with a hammer (hit it in the center and you can use a piece of pipe or wood as a extension because the studs will be in the way of the hammer.) Put the clips back on, then the pumpkin cover with a new gasket, fill with gear oil and your done.
1.If there is a drain plug remove to drain rear end lube. If not you also need to remove the rear cover now which will drain it also. 2. Remove brake drums 3.Remove bolt (or screw) #1 in picture, ring gear may have to be rotated to a certain position for the bolt to come out. 4.Remove differential pinion shaft (shown in second picture). Try not to rotate the ring gear at this point as this can cause the pinion gears to come out, not a big deal if they do. 5. Remove the axle shaft spacer (second picture) 6. Now you can push the axles in slightly which will expose the axle clips #4 in the picture. Once the clips are removed axles can be pulled out easily. Bearings and seals will remain in axle housing, check bearing and axle shaft for excessive wear which could be causing your seal problems. If they look OK, install new seal, lube with a little differential lube and re***emble the opposite of the above.
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