8N rear axle seal still leaks

Hello All,
replaced all axle seals last year and the PTO seal. PTO has a little leak yet, but when I was cleaning the underside I noticed a dibble down the back of the brake plate on the right side. That is the same side my puller wasn't strong enough to get the hub off - had to take it to my ford dealer. I read about putting permatex different areas when reassembling but some thought against it so I opted not to do it. While I read it, reading again this year, I wonder if the hub is too loose. What I re-read this year is that a loose hub could cause the leak. As I said, this hub was on very tight. The dealer said my hub and bearing are just fine. I put all the same shims back, new seal and brakes. I put the hub on both sides, but did not torque it. So I wonder if I did just tighten down on it more, that might just stop the leak - I just didn't catch on to the comments about a loose hub as the cause of the leak. The left side does not leak . I don't know why I haven't done that step yet, just knowing that I was still working on other areas and wasn't driving it around yet I suppose. I guess I don't have anything to loose, right?

If that doesn't work, do I then try the permatex method? And could I reuse the new seal I put on?

as always, thanks for your help.

cfb

My experience is you alway replace bearing and hub, most times the axel too.

You haven't driven it yet and it's leaking? That seems odd.
I use the sealer. The hub to axle nut torque is 450 ft/lbs.
Here's a guide with pictures by a fellow forum member.
[b:31d32136cf]John Smith[/b:31d32136cf]

If it was a problem with the hub letting oil past, the oil would be leaking between the hub and axle down the outside of the wheel. I would say that you have a seal or gasket problem. You said you replaced all the seals. Did you replace the gaskets like the thin cork one?

(quoted from post at 20:11:24 06/25/19) You haven't driven it yet and it's leaking? That seems odd.
I use the sealer. The hub to axle nut torque is 450 ft/lbs.
Here's a guide with pictures by a fellow forum member.
[b:f9281e02de]John Smith[/b:f9281e02de]

Click to expand...

thanks. I do have that article. It is nice and detailed. I have to read it several times.

(quoted from post at 18:16:17 06/25/19) My experience is you alway replace bearing and hub, most times the axel too.

Click to expand...

hmm. interesting. I was going on what the dealer told me that all looked good and that a tight hub was good too.

(quoted from post at 20:11:24 06/25/19) You haven't driven it yet and it's leaking? That seems odd.
I use the sealer. The hub to axle nut torque is 450 ft/lbs.
Here's a guide with pictures by a fellow forum member.
[b:ed33348057]John Smith[/b:ed33348057]

Click to expand...

forgot to say I did drive it from the barn to the garage as I needed to adjust the new brakes, and then drove it back to the barn. I read an interesting article that seemed to make sense on estimating torque when you don't have a torque wrench. It was a car forum, and he needed coincidentally a 450 ft/lb torque. He used a long wrench/bar and put a mark at 2.6 feet; then at that mark he put his whole body weight of 170 pounds to tighten the nut.

(quoted from post at 04:05:17 06/26/19) If it was a problem with the hub letting oil past, the oil would be leaking between the hub and axle down the outside of the wheel. I would say that you have a seal or gasket problem. You said you replaced all the seals. Did you replace the gaskets like the thin cork one?

Click to expand...

thank you. this is an interesting observation. yes, with the new seal came the thin cork gasket.

(quoted from post at 09:28:42 06/26/19)

(quoted from post at 04:05:17 06/26/19) If it was a problem with the hub letting oil past, the oil would be leaking between the hub and axle down the outside of the wheel. I would say that you have a seal or gasket problem. You said you replaced all the seals. Did you replace the gaskets like the thin cork one?

Click to expand...

thank you. this is an interesting observation. yes, with the new seal came the thin cork gasket.

Click to expand...

id you use sealer on both sides of all shims and gaskets, backing plate, etc?

(quoted from post at 08:17:25 06/26/19)

(quoted from post at 09:28:42 06/26/19)

(quoted from post at 04:05:17 06/26/19) If it was a problem with the hub letting oil past, the oil would be leaking between the hub and axle down the outside of the wheel. I would say that you have a seal or gasket problem. You said you replaced all the seals. Did you replace the gaskets like the thin cork one?

Click to expand...

thank you. this is an interesting observation. yes, with the new seal came the thin cork gasket.

Click to expand...

id you use sealer on both sides of all shims and gaskets, backing plate, etc?

Click to expand...

no, I used no sealer on shims or anywhere, now, I guess, regretting that.
I think I read that if do use it, make it very thin as I don't want to alter the pre-load which is still good at this time. Or, I suppose, if did use it, to eliminate a shim. Is this just trial and error, if indeed I need to go back and use sealer. Seems like you may be an advocate for sealer. thank you.

(quoted from post at 12:37:04 06/26/19)

(quoted from post at 08:17:25 06/26/19)

(quoted from post at 09:28:42 06/26/19)

(quoted from post at 04:05:17 06/26/19) If it was a problem with the hub letting oil past, the oil would be leaking between the hub and axle down the outside of the wheel. I would say that you have a seal or gasket problem. You said you replaced all the seals. Did you replace the gaskets like the thin cork one?

Click to expand...

thank you. this is an interesting observation. yes, with the new seal came the thin cork gasket.

Click to expand...

id you use sealer on both sides of all shims and gaskets, backing plate, etc?

Click to expand...

no, I used no sealer on shims or anywhere, now, I guess, regretting that.
I think I read that if do use it, make it very thin as I don't want to alter the pre-load which is still good at this time. Or, I suppose, if did use it, to eliminate a shim. Is this just trial and error, if indeed I need to go back and use sealer. Seems like you may be an advocate for sealer. thank you.

Click to expand...

f one does not use sealer between metal to metal parts, he should expect there to be leaks.