2004 ford ranger 4x4 - details in attached image.


I'm having a hell of a time getting this seal in place. I honestly don't think this is the right seal for this application but all research has pointed me to this one. The seals I've attempted are 17520 and 17521 (newer model) and it seems as the area that should fit into the recess around the opening of the axle housing is too thick to fit. It's impossible to get the seal to hang on to the axle housing at all, I've tried just by hand and also got pissed enough to beat the hell out of one to no avail (destroyed $25 seal == $25 therapy session).

Has anyone done this job before? I see a lot of posts about CV replacements that mention seals but haven't come across anything specific which makes me think this is much harder for me than the average person. Can someone let me know if they have used a different seal part number? The old one I took off got thrown away because "it was balled up in trash" according to my wife. It was sitting on my bench wrapped in paper towels. I'm at a standstill with this and not even sure where to turn next.

 

The reason you can't get a new seal in it is because the old seal separated from its steel backing, and you're trying to hammer a new seal into the old seal lip. The picture, second from top, is of an axle end with the rubber portion of the seal gone. The steel backing that the seal is bonded to is still installed in the differential carrier/axle tube.

Look at the edge of the axle, you should see a clear difference between the axle and the seal, as one is AL and the seal is steel. Then carefully get a screwdriver or knife edged object between the seal edge and the differential housing assembly, and the old seal should start to peel away. Just be sure to not nick the inside where the seal bore seats on the axle tube, though any gouges can be cleaned up with some sandpaper/emery cloth and files, and sealed up with some RTV if damage were to happen.

Good luck!

 

Ha-ha....been there, done that.

 

Hi, i know this is an old thread, but I'm right in what you are talking about. I had to mangle and muscle that seal lip out of the axle tube and wouldn't you know it, I knicked the damn inside. I'm kind of surprised I only had one to be honest. But I do have a little sharp burr of metal sticking up on the side where the new seal has to pass over. If i sand that burr down, do I just need to apply rtv to the affected area? I've never used RTV before, would i put the cv seal in before the RTV has time to set? Thanks in advance!

 

Yes, just to the effected spot (your smoothed nick).

 

Thanks man, I appreciate the response.