Whats involved in changing axle seals?

[Digger]

How long will it take, how would you do it, is there anything to watch for? This is on a 76 mustang II with non locking 2.79's

Thanks, Digger

[Clark Rodgers]

If you do it yourself it will take a better part of a day. You will have to remove the wheels, brake drums and then remove the four nuts on the retainer plate. Borrow an axle puller from either a friend or parts store, this will help alot because this is like a huge slide hammer. Make sure you are on good jack stands this can take some effort but the axle will come out right along with a bunch of fluid. then you will be looking at the seals. Find a way to pry them or knock them out make sure it is clean and install the new seals by pressing them in the axle housing.
Consider changing the axle bearings while your at it but you will need a large press for this. Then reverse the procedure but the axle will be stiff going back in but this is normal because of the tight fit on the bearing.

[Rev]

Clark's right, you should change the axle bearings while you have all this apart if you have 50,000 miles on them. I just take the axles to the machine shop to have the old bearings pressed off and new ones pressed on. Most of us don't have a great big hydraulic press at home, and the shops are usually reasonable for this.

Rev