Does anybody know the part numbers (Felpro or other) for the inner and outer axle shaft flange gaskets that go on a Ford 9" (Big Ford - New Style)?? Thanks for your help.
i'm not sure if that will work with the big Ford late (or Torino ) style....the applications for it are mostly Fords of the 70's
Wheel seals are to keep gear oil out of the bearings. Gaskets are to keep brake dust out of the bearings. Thanks
Actually, I think they just help make sure any gear oil that does leak past, stays off the brakes and in the factory bearing retainer. I never bother with them either and it's completely pointless if you have the C shaped aftermarket retainers.
In fact, Ford has two of these gaskets per side. One for the rear brake backing plate and another for the axle retainer. The backing plate is sandwiched between the rear axle housing and the axle retainer and has these gaskets on both sides. These gaskets are designed to keep the brake dust out of the bearing, not to keep gear oil in. But I've seen people change them, even use silicone on them, to stop gear oil from leaking onto their rear brakes. Of course what they actually need to change is the axle seal.
36-3 window, I'll try the 70's Torino application tommorrow at the parts store. Thanks for the useful info.
So what are you going to do about the hole in the center of the retainer allowing brake dust in there? Ford NEVER put a felt, rawhide, nylon, nitride seal there. If you're concerned about what might leak in between the axle flange, backing plate, bearing retainer, you are more concerned about sealing up the hole that Ford didn't worry about. I'm not saying you can't buy the part you're worried about, but thereis no mechanical reason to have it other than opening your wallet. If you have an oil leak there, you have overlooked A. Older, damaged axle with a hickey in the area to the inside of the wheel bearing and pressed on retainer where the wheel seal inside the axle tube would run. I just got done putting a wear sleeve on an axle in that position to stop one of the leaks from wear. B. Later axle with the wheel seal to the outside of the wheel bearing---The National 3195 seal snaps on the outside of the BCA A-20 wheel bearing before the wheel bearing is pressed on the axle shaft. Again, the wheel seal area can be damaged by foreign matter. With that application, the usual problem is mud and beer pored in the throat and whiskey in the boots. In both applications, the backing plate is installed on the axle housing before the axle is slid in. The older application is the only place where brake dust can contaminate the seal surface of the wheel bearing, Henry's boys didn't worry about it because the axle spun to use the air to keep dirt and **** out, but not water repelent. The newer application could potentially have damage to the wheel seal area. Read again in previous paragraph. Thanks to the folks that are providing other info and part numbers. I'll go back to selling parts and helping the mechanics, driveshaft builders, and customers. Some of my scars are starting to itch.
WTF? I politely asked for a simple part number, without any indication that I was worried or concerned. The gaskets are helpful, and only cost about $5.00 for all. Ford, like other manufacturers didn't do a lot of things.......hence after-market.
UPDATE: The 9" Ford axle housing is a TCI unit. Neither the FEL-4828 nor the FEL-55036 is the correct one. But, my local parts man is the best. He and I researched most all of the possibilities within the Felpro catalog and came up with the following numbers; FEL-4978 FEL-55001 FEL-55021 FEL-55035 FEL-55065 FEL-10720 FEL-55074 He ordered the first 5 and they will be here in the morning for comparison to my tracing of the axle flange. The last 2 numbers are special order that require pre-payment. Hopefully one of the 5 will fit and my search won't require the extra paperwork involved in ordering the last 2. Thanks everybody!!
I'm with you man, I put those gaskets back as well--early GM rears had them too (my '54 Buick and '57 Chevy), while my '62 GMC Dana 44 only has the one between the backing plate and the housing flange. I figure they're they're to keep water and moisture from seeping into the brake drum area by leaking past the axle flange and the backing plate. Metal-to-metal doesn't usually seal out water too well. It's for seals like this that I always keep a roll of gray gasket paper on hand. I've got a hole-punch set, a plastic cutting board and a box knife in the tool box to go along with it--a great investment. The hole punches came from the local parts store--they're hollow-tipped chisels, and have a carry pouch. Whack it with the hammer, makes clean bolt holes, good to go. Nothing sweeter than realizing you don't have a gasket for a particular project, and you can make your own in 5 minutes. Especially when you used to spend a few days chasing down the right part number! -Brad
Which way do the metal flange/retainer gaskets go? There is a lip turned 90 deg in and a bulge turned the opposite direction both on the center dia. The lip will not go into the axel tube flange nor into my old big ford 11 inch drum backing plates. It looks like I may have to hog out the diameter of the hole in the backing plate about .020 (can't make the axel tube flange dia larger........and don't want to) to make the seals work correctly. Can anyone verify this?
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