brand new half shaft seals leaking...

[1lowcab]

To remove it just get a long drift punch and tap on the tripod housing, pops it right out.

Tap on those little indents, you can see them in this pic, its where the little yellow dot is on the inboard cv.

[Rinny]

I use a couple of small crowbars to get them out. They usually come out as 1low said, "relatively easy".

[WinnieVan]

Alright. Sounds like there are a few different ways... and 1lowcab there are no shoulders on the Suretracks, which makes that method not possible.

Crowbars could work... or I could just bite the bullet and return mine and go with Napa Remanns.

Gonna ask TNB how he seated his suretracks today in chat. I’ll fill in the details here if he doesn’t beat me to it.


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[1lowcab]

which makes that method not possible.

That is really strange as that is the exact method they say to use in the FSM.

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Better check with tnb.....

[gavio]

The method shown in the FSM works great on the originals (I used a stick of wood), but the Suretrak/Trakmotive shafts have a round housing in place of the tripot housing, so it doesn't have a big shoulder like that, hence the issue..... In looking at mine, I'm pretty sure that the usual method will still work on the passenger side, it's only the driver's side that is difficult - reason being that there isn't room to get a good angle because it's stuck up pretty tight against the pumpkin..... When I removed the driver's side original, it was awkward even with the shoulders, though it worked.....

It appears to me that to get the Trakmotive shaft out, I will need one of the alternative methods mentioned, though maybe not..... Because the shaft is new, it took a lot of work to get it over the clip in the spline, so I'm guessing that coming out it will most likely pull out the stubby spline with it, since that clip and groove are older and "softer"....... I'm not especially looking forward to that project..... Good news is that it appears that my leak is perhaps not too severe, so I may hold off until I can stand looking at it again.....

[1lowcab]

Suretrak/Trakmotive shafts have a round housing in place of the tripot housing

Now I'm really glad I went with leeanns recommendation on the Napa remans.

[Rinny]

The drift method works fine to get the shafts out. I find that a small crow bar, the one with a hook on the end is even easier to pop them out if you use 2 about 18" long opposite each other it is pretty slick and they come rite out easy peasy. Lil bit of a PITA when the shafts come out with them, it happens no matter what method you use sometimes.

[WinnieVan]

Oh well... I just got caught in a torrent of questions on RockAuto that made my SureTrack's non-returnable for some reason -- so I'm sticking with them! Plus -- Napa cannot source the CVs without some exorbitant shipping fees... so i'd be standing to loose $100 bucks or so after incorporating a RockAuto return and the high cost (w/ shipping) for NAPA.

I'll just take my time and make sure to place them carefully. Hopefully this is a one-and-done repair for me... but time will tell!

Plus -- I can keep my old ones, which are in decent shape. Maybe I'll have someone rebuild them so I have an extra set sitting around for a rainy day!

Go Forum! Even though I wish I had the remans.. I'm feeling way more prepared for this portion of the job!

Sorry for the thread-jack Gavio... but given that I'm like 2 months behind you on this job, I've been very interested!'

[1lowcab]

You can always get this tool, makes it a breeze pulling axles...

[gavio]

Hopefully this is a one-and-done repair for me... but time will tell!

I'm hoping that for you, too..... What I've learned the hard way: Remove the inspection cover to do that seal, or just buy a new cover.... Use Timken seals..... Get help installing the new shafts, lube them, and make sure they go in perfectly straight.... Don't let them dangle, even for a moment - tie them up while you reach back to get the spindle...... Get rid of the van first, so you don't have to do this at all....

OK, sort of kidding on that last one.....

You can always get this tool, makes it a breeze pulling axles...

Image

I seem to recall seeing a picture of that tool available on Oreilly's loaner tool program - didn't register what it was for..... I will get one of those for sure....

[WinnieVan]

You can always get this tool, makes it a breeze pulling axles...

Beats spending an extra hundred bucks on a new set of CV axles. I'll keep this in mind if I find myself in a pinch!

[vtstang66]

I think I need to do this too. I see all the advice to get some help, 2nd set of hands, and I'm sure it's very sound advice.

But

Is it possible to do alone? Is there a way I could tie the heavy end up with string or something and drive it in myself, being veerrryyyyy careful, or does the nature of it just require a dedicated set of hands on the splined part and another set on the driving operation?

[Mmusicman]

I did my alone.
Tapped out the shaft with piece of 2x4 and hammer (the tool isn't necessary).
Came out relatively easy... couple easy taps and it came right out.

Pulling differential plate was very easy.. installed seal, and silicone plate back in place.
I would have preferred to buy a plate and not use silicone.

New shaft was a bit more difficult getting it to seat and snap into place fully.. the new seal was very stiff. Tapped it into place (with a little more force) with hammer.

Be sure it is fully seated! It IS possible to reassemble everything with shaft not fully seated (since the shaft flexes), which could potentially have disastrous results.

[gavio]

Well,anything is possible.... The issues are that the splines end is very heavy and really would rather flop down at the axle end than slide straight into the seal....Combine that with the fact that it will be very stiff and will need to be jammed onto the spline more than merely slid and it's quite a handful.... Tying it up did not work for me....

Best wishes whatever way you go....

I just got the van back from paying a mechanic to replace the seals for me, I kind of liked that method...I just wasn't ready to crawl back under there....

[Mmusicman]

I did tie up the outside of the shaft (since I did mine alone), but ONLY to hold it in place so I could hammer it back in straight! I used the old nut (partially screwed on but sticking out slightly past threads).. and whacked it with a small sledge hammer, to drive the shaft fully back in (you don't want to damage the threads or the new nut). The shaft is plenty tough! Worked fine for me.

[albrow100]

do the suretrack axles hold up better for lifter vans? they look like they would
this is the 1st thread i've seen them mentioned