Domestic Series 7000 MFD
39
6.8. After the axle is separated from the bearing and 
cover, the bearing, and the seal that protects it 
may be easily removed from the cover.           
See Figure 6.8.
6.9. Clean and inspect all of the components and 
sealing surfaces on mating components:        
See Figure 6.9.
• Bearings should turn smoothly and freely.
• The splines, wheel mounting flange, bearing 
journals, lug threads, splines and seal surface of 
the axle should all be in good condition.
• Check the axle cover for damage.
Figure 6.8
Outer axle bearing: slip fit in bore,
    stops against shoulder
Shoulder
Figure 6.9
Lug bolt
threads
Seal surface
Splines
6.10. To reassemble the axle cover: See Figure 6.10.
• Use a seal driver to install a new seal in the 
cover.  There is no shoulder for the seal to seat 
against, so it must be driven far enough that the 
outer edge of the seal is flush with the outer 
edge of the machined bore that the seal seats in.
• Lubricate the lip of the seal.
• Assemble the axle, bearings, and axle bevel 
gear to the axle cover.  Be certain that the retain-
ing ring is properly seated in its groove on reas-
sembly.
6.11. On installation to the drop axle housing: 
• Apply a small bead of sealant such as Black 
Loctite # 5900 to the mating surfaces.
• Apply a small amount of thread locking com-
pound such as Loctite 242 (blue) to the threads 
of the bolts that secure the axle cover.
• Install the cover to the drop axle housing, and 
tighten the bolts to torque of 160-220 in-lbs. (18-
25 Nm).  There is an embossed square on the 
cover, but there is no need to orient it in any spe-
cific location.
• Refill the drop axle housing with 85W140 gear 
lube. 
Figure 6.10
 
           no stop shoulder
    Straight bore for seal:
Seal driver