New rear axle bearings and seals.

[PatDTN]

I'm not the one to ask. My decision was the ones that could get here the fastest on Amazon or one of the other sites. I was looking for a bunch of parts from one site if possible.

 

[PatDTN]

So my tagline came into play I think. I drove a fair bit since doing this job. Then before the Labor Day traffic could make it more of a nightmare we decided to buy a boat.

Ran 4 1/2 hours out to western Kentucky for it. Liked the boat, bought it, and headed home. Some trailer issues and a lot of rain. I started feeling and hearing a grumbling. When I got back in my driveway I could smell roasting gear oil.

My left side bearing was DESTROYED along with the seal and ABS reluctor. So I'm doing that side again plus cleaning bits of metal out of the whole rear end. I can see telltale marks on the side of the reluctor from walking it in with a socket. Rented the correct bearing and seal driver this time.

Happy that my truck got me home. Happy that my axle looks unharmed. Sad that I'm missing some fabulous boating weather with my tow vehicle down. Reluctor arrives today.

 

[Rocket Man]

So my tagline came into play I think. I drove a fair bit since doing this job. Then before the Labor Day traffic could make it more of a nightmare we decided to buy a boat.

Ran 4 1/2 hours out to western Kentucky for it. Liked the boat, bought it, and headed home. Some trailer issues and a lot of rain. I started feeling and hearing a grumbling. When I got back in my driveway I could smell roasting gear oil.

My left side bearing was DESTROYED along with the seal and ABS reluctor. So I'm doing that side again plus cleaning bits of metal out of the whole rear end. I can see telltale marks on the side of the reluctor from walking it in with a socket. Rented the correct bearing and seal driver this time.

Happy that my truck got me home. Happy that my axle looks unharmed. Sad that I'm missing some fabulous boating weather with my tow vehicle down. Reluctor arrives today.

I’m pretty sure there’s s reason to use the specialty tool to install that reluctor as I don’t believe it’s supposed to seat against whatever flange you drove it up against. It sets the depth for a reason. I can send the Kent-Moore tool for seating the reluctor via USPS 2-day Express flat rate for about $10
and you can send it back when you’re done if you like. Just send me a PM with your address. I’d hate for you to go through this again.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I’m pretty sure there’s s reason to use the specialty tool to install that reluctor as I don’t believe it’s supposed to seat against whatever flange you drove it up against. It sets the depth for a reason. I can send the Kent-Moore tool for seating the reluctor via USPS 2-day Express flat rate for about $10
and you can send it back when you’re done if you like. Just send me a PM with your address. I’d hate for you to go through this again.

Nice. Kind offer @Rocket Man.

 

[PatDTN]

Awesome offer but I can't wait now. Can you send me dimensions? I can make measurements to see if that's what went wrong.

Thanks! I know you said that tool wasn't cheap.

 

[Rocket Man]

Awesome offer but I can't wait now. Can you send me dimensions? I can make measurements to see if that's what went wrong.

Thanks! I know you said that tool wasn't cheap.

I’m not sure what dimensions you want. I don’t have a caliper big enough. From the outside of the small diameter to the shoulder of the second diameter is approximately 1 15/32” and the shoulder of the second diameter to the shoulder of the center one is approximately 1 23/32”. That would be from either the left or right as you look at the picture, the tool seems to be a mirror image on either side of the middle.

 

[PatDTN]

I think depths are the thing. How far into the axle it pushes the thing. I did some measuring on my axle and saw three shoulders
I measured from the end to each one and came up with 63mm in at the deepest. That's the one I stopped the reluctor against. Since the ring on the reluctor is 16mm wide I would think the tool would have a stop that reached to 63 - 16 or 47mm in.
The other shoulders are at 42mm for the bearing and 16mm in for the seal.

 

[Rocket Man]

I think depths are the thing. How far into the axle it pushes the thing. I did some measuring on my axle and saw three shoulders
I measured from the end to each one and came up with 63mm in at the deepest. That's the one I stopped the reluctor against. Since the ring on the reluctor is 16mm wide I would think the tool would have a stop that reached to 63 - 16 or 47mm in.
The other shoulders are at 42mm for the bearing and 16mm in for the seal.

Nothing at 47 mm. The first is 37 mm, then at 43 mm from that one. Like I said, alldatadiy states to use the tool to set the reluctor at the correct depth. My thinking is that if it sat against a shoulder there would be no need for the specialty tool, they would just say to set it in until it stops which is what they say to do for the bearing by using a standard bearing set. There’s no specialty tool for the bearing. I believe the reluctor needs space behind it in order to operate correctly so the center part of it can grab the axle as it’s slid in but still have the outside of the reluctor grab the axle tube. But it can’t be too far out either or it will hit the bearing. And as you noticed, there appears to be a special substance on the reluctor and I’m not sure of the purpose of it but it obviously isn’t just grease because I’ve never seen bearings or anything else come in a sealed plastic bag with messy black greasy stuff like that already applied. Bearings come fairly clean and the instructions in the service manual state to grease them when they’re installed. I tried for hours to find out more information on reluctor installation but there seems to be very little out there. That’s part of the reason I decided to buy the tool and follow the instructions at alldatadiy. I dint want my diff going out on me at a bad time. Mine is also narrowed so I can tuck my wheels when I air it out and the Moser axles I had to buy aren’t cheap and are made to order with a 6 to 8 week lead time. I wish you luck but sometimes you just have to do it right, not fast.

 

[PatDTN]

Thanks for that. What stops the tool as you drive the reluctor in? Does that raised ring in the middle hit the end of the axle tube?

 

[Rocket Man]

Thanks for that. What stops the tool as you drive the reluctor in? Does that raised ring in the middle hit the end of the axle tube?

Yessir. At least I think that’s the one that stops the tool. I know something hits the end of the axle tube and it stops.

 

[PatDTN]

So looking at the tool that small end goes inside of the reluctor. Then that large shoulder contacts the race of the reluctor and pushes it in the distance from the edge of that large shoulder to the near side of that center ring. That's the distance that means something.

 

[Rocket Man]

Great. I gave you the measurements and then converted them to mm because I don’t have a caliper that measures in mm. I used a tape measure and those are what I came up with but I’m just using a tape measure. Sorry but that’s the best I can do. You might be able to borrow that tool from a local mechanic with a deposit, IDK. So that measurement looks like a hair over 1 7/16 , probably 1 23/32 like I said which converts to 43.65 mm but that’s a rough measurement.

 

[PatDTN]

Okay, thanks. It looks like I should end up with a little clearance between the reluctor and the bearing and that's what the measurements give me.

 

[JimmyZMack]

I’m not sure what dimensions you want. I don’t have a caliper big enough. From the outside of the small diameter to the shoulder of the second diameter is approximately 1 15/32” and the shoulder of the second diameter to the shoulder of the center one is approximately 1 23/32”. That would be from either the left or right as you look at the picture, the tool seems to be a mirror image on either side of the middle.

View attachment 230131

Rocketman,
Do you have a description of the tool. I looked at the link and couldn't find it. Hacing issues of an abs sensor after replacing the reluctor on the right rear of my 2013 suburban.
Thanks for the information this has helped alot!!!

 

[PatDTN]

It's concentric cylinders. The end fits just inside the reluctor all the way. Then it steps out larger to the bearing diameter nearly for the width of the bearing plus a tiny bit for clearance between the reluctor and bearing and ends with a larger diameter step that stops it at the end of the axle tube.

After you've driven the reluctor into place you use a different tool to drive the bearing in square to the right depth. Once the bearing is in you pop the seal into the end of the axle.

As discussed above my reluctor(s) spun on the axle for a short while before getting a hold and spinning with the axle like they should.

 

[Rocket Man]

Rocketman,
Do you have a description of the tool. I looked at the link and couldn't find it. Hacing issues of an abs sensor after replacing the reluctor on the right rear of my 2013 suburban.
Thanks for the information this has helped alot!!!

It’s a Kent-Moore J 45860. I see one on eBay for $23 shipped right now.

 

[hardline]

This is the post that keeps on giving! The information here has been really helpful, and in figuring out what I did wrong... I have an 09 Tahoe torn apart in the driveway, was replacing rear seals and bearings. I managed to tear the guts out of the reluctor/tone rings in the process. I have the new parts and new sensors just in case, I have the tool for setting the depth of the wheel bearings. What I cant get a hold of is the J-45860 Tone Ring Installer. Does anyone know where I can get a hold of one of these? They are out of stock every where I look. I've also talked with my mechanic and Napa and Autozone about rentals, no luck. Thought I would buy it as it should work on a couple other trucks here. Thanks for any thoughts on this.

 

[89Suburban]

This is the post that keeps on giving! The information here has been really helpful, and in figuring out what I did wrong... I have an 09 Tahoe torn apart in the driveway, was replacing rear seals and bearings. I managed to tear the guts out of the reluctor/tone rings in the process. I have the new parts and new sensors just in case, I have the tool for setting the depth of the wheel bearings. What I cant get a hold of is the J-45860 Tone Ring Installer. Does anyone know where I can get a hold of one of these? They are out of stock every where I look. I've also talked with my mechanic and Napa and Autozone about rentals, no luck. Thought I would buy it as it should work on a couple other trucks here. Thanks for any thoughts on this.

@Rocket Man do you still have this tool?

 

[Just Fishing]

I see it in stock here,
https://www.autotoolworld.com/Kent-Moore-J-45860-VSES-Tone-Ring-Installer_p_232347.html

I did a google search using "Kent-Moore J45860"

Not a cheap tool!


I'm also glad I saw this thread; I can see myself digging into the rear axle w/o looking at my factory manual.
Future me: "Yeah I have done this before with my S10, easy peasy"

 

[Geotrash]

I see it in stock here,
https://www.autotoolworld.com/Kent-Moore-J-45860-VSES-Tone-Ring-Installer_p_232347.html

I did a google search using "Kent-Moore J45860"

Not a cheap tool!


I'm also glad I saw this thread; I can see myself digging into the rear axle w/o looking at my factory manual.
Future me: "Yeah I have done this before with my S10, easy peasy"

You could just about buy a low mileage used axle from a junkyard for that price.