Halfshaft Seals

[mickm]

I have leaking Halfshaft Seals!! They are on a 1957 Tourer.The job should not phase me, but I need some advice. Do I have to remove the hubs or can I remove the bearings and seal without the need to remove the hubs? If the hubs have to be removed do I need a hub puller or can they come off without the need for one? Thanks in advance. Mick

[Stig]

Where's the oil coming from? If it's dribbling out the back of the back-plate then it's the seals, if it's leaking out onto the drum itself then it's the o-ring/gasket.

To replace the seals you do need to remove the hub, press the bearing out, press out the old seal, press in a new seal and then the bearing and replace the hub. That's after you've taken off the brake shoes and removed the half-shaft.
You'll need a decent two-legged puller, but the real faff is giving it something in the middle to pull against - I used various bits of metal and appropriate sized sockets but they wobble a bit and make the puller slip off. You'll also need a decent vice or press to get the bearing back in again, not too tricky as long as it's exactly straight.
It's not a difficult job though, as long as someone hasn't overtightened the hub nut and you have to drill & chisel it off (as I did). Mind you, some folks routinely undo the hub nut with a chisel as they don't have the right socket. Remember that the nearside is a left-hand thread though!

If it's just leaking where the end of the half-shaft fits onto the hub then that's much simpler, but your brake shoes would be contaminated and need replacing.

I'm assuming that a '57 is the same as a '69 here mind you. Someone will correct me if it's not I hope.

[mickm]

Thanks stig. Yes the shoes are stuffed. It apears to be comming from the seal, but i won't know untill it comes apart!! I'll see if Ican borrow a puller from our stores. I was wondering if a slide hammer will shift it? As I still have one from 1100 days.

[Stig]

There's supposed to be a lip on the back-plate with a drain hole to 'outside' so any oil that gets past the hub seal doesn't get onto the brake shoes. I'm guessing yours is blocked then!

A slide hammer might do the trick, I've not tried.

[alex_holden]

If you're lucky the hub may just pull off (after removing the half shaft and nut) if you re-fit the wheel and waggle it about. Failing that, re-fit the wheel with a piece of thick scrap sheet metal blocking the centre hole, then gradually tighten two wheel nuts to jack the hub off.

[mickm]

Hi Stig./ Alix I didn't know about the hole I'll look for it on saturday when I do the job. The slide hammer is quite large, as the Morris 1100 we once had as an everyday car needed quite a thump to remove the rear hubs. If I remember right. The best thing about the leak is it gets me out of wedding arangements. The management is off hellping with the brides dress. And me, I can sit and play with HER car. Looks like I might even get a house point. Better still be able to get her to pick me up from The Only Arms when the job is finished.

[bmcecosse]

Any time I worked on the rear hubs - they just pulled off by hand! No fancy 'puller' required.

[mickm]

Well the weekend is over (you may have noticed!) and house points won. The job went well but I had to use the slide hammer i made many many years ago. On Friday we went to E.S.M. to get more parts to help complete the car. They are a good company to deal with very helpful and seem to hold enough stock to build a complete car/van. The yard has at least a dozen resting cars!! Whilst management was off to Lakeside I managed to do the rear seals and bearings, replace the parcel shelf, and re-stuff the front seats with new foam from E.S.M. That makes them so much better. Even managed to take a test run to the Only Arms. Just to make sure every thing was ok you understand:
Sunday was spent proving to management that all worked well with a drive over to Orford on the Suffolk coast. a day well deserved. ATB Mick

[kittyfell]

Great success!

[robinofsherwood]

Could anyone help me sourcing some half shaft seals ? Have recently put my first moggie through its MOT and the guy at the garage said there was a small leak onto a brake pad and if I could get a half shaft seal he would fix it.[frame][/frame]

[alex_holden]

Could anyone help me sourcing some half shaft seals ? Have recently put my first moggie through its MOT and the guy at the garage said there was a small leak onto a brake pad and if I could get a half shaft seal he would fix it.

You probably want both an O ring and a gasket:
http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... ucts_id=81
http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... ucts_id=83

And of course a new set of brake shoes (it's safest to replace them in pairs):
http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... cts_id=431

I would check the axle oil level afterwards too.

[robinofsherwood]

Thanks for your help Alex

[bmcecosse]

Make sure the breather in the rear axle casing is clear.

[rovermorris999]

I have the same problem, rear brake shoes with a liberal coating of hypoy on my '68 van. Looking at the diagram I assume I just pull the half shaft out, replace the O ring and gasket and replace. Is it that easy? I'll clear out the drain holes too and check the breather.

[MarkyB]

The half shaft needs to have the inner end lifted a little and probably turned a bit to re-engage with the splines in the diff.

[bmcecosse]

If the bearings are worn it may still leak. Only the later cars have the much better O ring - early cars rely on the paper gasket.....