'65 c10 chevy - rear axle seal leak or wheel cylinder?

[Woogeroo]

I was rotating the tires on my '65 c10 and when I took the drum off of the right rear, I noticed this black stuff all over the brake shoes:

picture 1

So, if it is the wheel cylinder leaking, I have parts for that...

If it is a rear axle seal... how does that work? I read about it in the shop manual, but I'm fuzzy on what to do inside the differential cover and what tools to use to properly make the axle come out.

picture 2

picture 3


Any tips or suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

-W

[Green Machine]

Looks like axle seal leak to me. Might as well plan for a complete brake job soon, including new cylinders and axle seals. Axles come out easy, remove rear cover, small bolt holds spider pin, remove that bolt, spider pin slides out, push axle in and remove C clip. Pull axle out, before putting axle back in, polish the seal and bearing surface with some 600 wet or dry sandpaper and some WD40.

[Woogeroo]

dang... I just redid the rear brake shoes last summer.

It's always something I guess.

this is a video to a chevelle rear axle - c-clips coming out.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/1...val_153887.htm

Someone, told me that those are 'similiar' to the axle in my truck.

Thanks for the tips GreenMachine.

-W

[dammitmitchell]

hey jsut a note DO NOT use wd-40 on any spring period ever
use PB blaster
wd-40 eats spring steel
and leads to rapid failure...
jsut a note good luck

[Green Machine]

Originally Posted by dammitmitchell

hey jsut a note DO NOT use wd-40 on any spring period ever
use PB blaster
wd-40 eats spring steel
and leads to rapid failure...
jsut a note good luck

Never heard that before ????????? I know acids can do that.

[dammitmitchell]

in my former job it was banned form use in aircraft and weapons (army) because we were using it to be a pins and spring loosener but the stuff started degenerating rapidly and breaking soooo
we got banned from it
big old memo and researchstuff said no more..
oh well
but "pb blaster" works better any way hehehe

[Woogeroo]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

With working and being in school... I decided to take it to the shop. I figured I'd get it apart, and hit a snag or something and it'd really mess up my schedule.

I was seriously pondering doing it myself... but it seems anytime I get that far down the rabbit hole with this truck, I need some basic part and it'll take two days to get it... so everything stops.

The fun of a daily driver!

Well, at least my folks let me borrow their rides for school and work.

Thanks again folks,

-W

[LONGHAIR]

Although I am not a big WD-40 fan, I have never heard of that either. It is great for it's intended use (Water Dispersion-WD) but somehow it has become many people's go-to nut buster and general lubricant? There are far better products for both.

As far as the original question for anyone else that may find this thread:
Gravity is your friend here. If the wheel cylinder leaks, it will drip/run down the backing plate, across the outer axle seal and down to the drum. If the axle seal leaks, it can't get back "up-hill" to the wheel cylinder, so it should stay fairly dry. If the axle seal leaks fairly heavily...and you ignore it for a while, it gets thougher to tell. But at that point, you might just as well take care of both at the same time. The shoes are shot either way, so the only added expense would be the wheel cylinders and they are cheap.
Also, if the wheel cylinder is leaking, you will be losing fluid at the master cylinder. With an axle seal leak, you are not likely to ever see a fluid loss.

[watahyahknow]

simple trick to check for brake leaks : go in the cab and step on the brakes and keep it in , if the brakepedal sinks slowly theres a leak , allso if you need to refil brakefluid more than a few drops theres a leak .
to check if the drumbrake cylinders leak take a small blunt screwdriver and lift the the dustcap a little at the bottom (each side of the cylinder ) if fluid comes out there leaking .
simple but effective we do it that way all the time when we need to do a yearly checkup

[Bowtie001]

Sounds like an axle seal. It is an easy swap, just be very careful - the bolt that hold in the pin with the spider gears on it sometimes breaks. This is a bad thing. I don't yet know how to get it out at this point without destroying something. The last one that broke on me needed to be drilled out, which ruined the differential.

[Woogeroo]

A prelimnary report from the shop says there is some damage to the axle shaft... so he is running down part numbers from GM.

I have not talked to him directly yet, but it seems there is that damage, and there were some shims missing from the gears or something.

I'll keep ya'll informed... I might have to beg some part numbers off you guys tomorrow.

-W

[watahyahknow]

if the shaft isnt hardened on the bearingpart they might get away with putting a sleeve over it , most likely the seal has made a groove in the axle so a new one will start to leak in no time as whell .
might just be theres to much play in the diff gears and it needs some more shims

[Woogeroo]

Does anyone have any sources for axle shafts?

I found this one through google:

http://www.uspowertrain.com/axlesGM.htm

3893605 <- gm part number my mechanic gave me


I also found this one:

http://www.drivetrain.com/axle.html



Anyone else?

-W


----

watahyahknow : it has a groove on both shafts, pitting... carrier bearing has some play... the shim pack was not right and was cutting into the axle...

*sigh*

-W

[Woogeroo]

update:

This is another option I have found:

http://www.earlyclassic.com


search for: axle shaft


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