Rear bearings on their way out?

[dashhho]

I was checking out my drums today and noticed some vertical play in the axle. The drivers was quite a bit, the passenger side was less but still noticeable. I'm guessing there shouldnt be much play if any? The seal seems to be holding at this point as there is no diff oil leaking yet.

I'm looking at parts and am a little confused here. It looks like Timken/National sell a single unit bearing/seal?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=221810&cc=1431252&pt=1672&jsn=980
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1116817&cc=1431252&pt=1672&jsn=976

OR you can buy the bearings/seals seperately but some of the part numbers on rockauto are the same for 4wd/rwd?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1119420&cc=1431252&pt=1672

I have a 4wd 8.8 ring gear 28 spline.

Has anyone used the "Bearing & Seal Kit; Optional Axle Repair Bearing Replaces O.E. Bearing and Seal"

 

[CrabGuy]

When I had a rear wheel brake cylinder fail on my 217K mile 04 Ranger 4x4 I checked out the axle seals and bearings really well. There was some very minor play vertically but the seals were still good. As a comparison I checked the same parts on my 2011 E350. They had comparable play also but with only 1/3 the miles so I assume there's always some minor play. I already have the Timken bearing/seal set you posted but will wait until I have leakage or detectible bearing noise. I don't think my Ranger has ever towed any significant weight so I held off. Usually if an axle bearing is going bad you can hear it when rolling to a stop if the windows are down. I've always felt a failing axle bearing will give you plenty of warning.

 

[Roert42]

Normally the outer axel bearing and the axel seal on an 8.8 is two separate pcs. It does look like your Timkin kit has a seal built onto the bearing, over worked with anything like that so I can’t comment.

I would hope there is no play in those bearings, but nothing is perfect.

Rear axel bearings normally have a very long life, 2/300k miles. If your bearings are worn, need to check the axels for wear.

 

[dashhho]

Thanks for the help all. Maybe a video is worth a thousand pictures. hard to video and move the axle at the same time.

passenger ^^^

drivers side ^^^

I think the passenger is reasonable? The drivers side seems too much but I'm no expert.

 

[dashhho]

The previous owner did tow with the truck. Not huge amounts from what I recall.
So I did some more research into the seal/bearing combo kits offered by Timken/National. They seem to be marketed as "repair kits" and relocate the bearing to an area that is not worn.

 

[Roert42]

The previous owner did tow with the truck. Not huge amounts from what I recall.
So I did some more research into the seal/bearing combo kits offered by Timken/National. They seem to be marketed as "repair kits" and relocate the bearing to an area that is not worn.

That's good information, I'll have to try and remember about that sort of thing.

 

[Dirtman]

How the heak do you install the bearing if the seal is attached to it? The bearings are a tight fit and driven in with a driver, I'd think you'd damage the seal trying to drive the bearing in?

And the "repair" part generally means it moves the seal not the bearing. The seals cause a groove in the axle and stop sealing so it moves the lip slightly. You can't really move the bearing itself. If the axle or tube is damaged where the bearing sits it's basically fubar.

 

[dashhho]

How the heak do you install the bearing if the seal is attached to it? The bearings are a tight fit and driven in with a driver, I'd think you'd damage the seal trying to drive the bearing in?

And the "repair" part generally means it moves the seal not the bearing. The seals cause a groove in the axle and stop sealing so it moves the lip slightly. You can't really move the bearing itself. If the axle or tube is damaged where the bearing sits it's basically fubar.

Good to know I thought it read it the other way around.

 

[pjtoledo]

it appears the outer casing is enough to drive it in.

Axle Repair Bearing S-RP-5707: Advance Auto Parts

 

[Dirtman]

I see said the smelly man...

 

[dashhho]

I see said the smelly man...

Now I'm confused.

 

[Dirtman]

Now I'm confused.

I'm very smelly, and now I see how it works.

 

[tinman_72]

Normally you would purchase the two pieces separately and install them. On high mileage axles, the seal will actually wear a little groove into the axle. No matter what you do, it will always leak.
The one piece bearing/seal is a fix for this. The seal built in to the one-piece actually sits in a different spot than where the OEM seal would, meaning it will ride on the axle in a virgin spot. No more leaking.
If your current seal isn't damaged and isn't leaking I would stick with the OEM two pieces.

 

[sgtsandman]

For the bearing brands, I would pick Timken over National, given a choice. Though I have used National before without any problems.

Also, I would go with the two piece kit over the repair bearing since you don’t have a leak issue.

This is assuming you go to change the bearings.