Dana 44 rear outer oil seal

Mike_B · Post by **Mike_B** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:09 pm

Can someone explain the logic in installing the rear outer oil seal with the lip facing in? I always thought the lip faced the oil side, but the manual has it facing inward which is the axle tube dead air space...

Thanks,

Mike B

Post by **wesk** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 10:34 pm

I think you are assuming there is another oil seal at the inboard ends of the axle tubes next to the differential side bearings. Some axles/diffs do have the inner seal installed here but this one does not.

The inner oil seal installs against a step on the inside of the outer end of the axle tube and it's seal lip faces inwards into that axle tube which gets oil splashed outward from the differential towards that inner seal. These axles have no seal at the inboard ends of the axle tube adjacent to the ring gear bearings.

Mike_B · Post by **Mike_B** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 10:14 am

Man do I feel like a dummy...I kept reading "don't damage the inner seal when installing the axle shaft" and my brain had me thinking there was a seal all the way in at the differential not thinking the outer end of the housing had the inner seal...makes complete sense now!

Thanks for clearing that up...we all needed a good laugh today!

Mike B