M-38 Inner axle seal?

[Dumpster]

I have dissassembled my front axle to install new seals. I am familiar with the bendix joint axles used in the 5 ton truck, they have an inner seal installed immediately behind the thrust plate inside the axle tube. I don't see any evidence of an inner seal having ever been installed behind the inner axles on the M-38. Am I missing something? What keeps the oil out of the hub?

[Bretto]

The inner oil seal is at the differential end behind the bearings. #14

_________________
Brett
'51 M38
PHOTO DIARY OF MY BUILD

[Dumpster]

Thanks, That settles it.

Looks like it will be lousey repair , having to remove the carrier.

Also, on another related front axle note. The seal retainer half rings on the knuckles are very fragile and white metal. Either zinc or aluminum that have sufferered some type of intergranular attack and are crumbling. Are these retainers original, or are these some type of weird replacement, any ideas?

Thanks

[jimm]

Those would be the original-style cast metal seal retainers. Sounds like yours are in the same condition mine were! You can get reproduction replacements, or replacements that are made out of flat sheet metal.
_________________
Jim McKim
1952 M38 son-father project
Slowly turning rusty parts into OD parts

[G740]

Or, you can buy NOS originals from Midwest Military.
John

[Dumpster]

Thanks for the help. I have a set of Repro's coming. I'll check with Midwest on NOS pieces.