Yellow O-ring in hub

[agoodhi]

What are possible consequences of re-using the yellow o-ring between hub and knuckle? The shop that installed my ball joints didn't replace inner/outer axle shaft seals, nor the o-ring.

--Ryan

[NoRalPh]

I don't think it's doin' a whole lot.....

If you have vacuum hubs maybe it could leak a little vacuum if it were really torn. It's a pretty tight fit and with a little grease even an old one is probably doing everything it's supposed to.

I've had my hubs in & out several times and am still using the original ones.

The Knuckle Seal however, could really be a source of a leak for vacuum hubs! They are driven in with a tool and the metal-to-metal force is pretty high. In fact, getting an old one out without damaging it is near impossible if they're original.

That seal sells for like $60 and would be the reason for not replacing it when quoting the job. Again, if you've got Manual Hubs it's not as important.

[agoodhi]

Originally Posted by NoRalPh

The Knuckle Seal however, could really be a source of a leak for vacuum hubs! They are driven in with a tool and the metal-to-metal force is pretty high. In fact, getting an old one out without damaging it is near impossible if they're original.

That seal sells for like $60 and would be the reason for not replacing it when quoting the job. Again, if you've got Manual Hubs it's not as important.

By Knuckle Seal, are you referring to the outer axle seal that gets pressed on the axle stub?

[NoRalPh]

There are two seals associated with the front axle. One is at the end of the axle tube and called a "dust" seal (the differential oil seal is actually inside the center section and the "tube end" is just for dirt)

The other seal is like 4" in diameter and has metal on the outside where it presses into the Ft Hub (Knuckle) and the inner metal part presses onto the stub axle (goes from the U-Joint out to the wheel) and is called the "Knuckle Seal" by Ford.