Extension Housing Seal Working Out

[IQ45]

All,
This is my first post and I used the search feature first, so please bear with me...I have a '94 model Ranger SuperCab, 4.0 with the A4LD. I just put fresh U-joints, carrier bearing, and extension housing seal in it and after test driving, found the seal had worked out slightly and allowed about 1 quart of fluid to escape. I refilled, tapped the seal back in and drove it a few miles, and the seal came out further. The carrier bearing appears square with the driveshaft and it was slightly different from the O.E., with dust covers where the original did not. I could only use the cover on the differential side of the bearing because the one towards the extension housing seemed too loose and I felt it might cut a groove, so I removed it. I made sure I kept all of the components in the same positions (marking with paint) for balance. Hope you folks can help.
Thanks and great forum,
IQ45

 

[IQ45]

Anyone?

 

[Earl43P]

I'm no tranny expert, but it sounds like you have some aft thrust pushing that seal back out. I'm only responding because I just replaced the similar seal on an M5OD. I don't see how it could get pushed out, unless the shaft was moving aft, when it shouldn't.

Are you SURE they gave you the correct seal? I had the Auto seal (which didn't fit, making a return trip to the AP store, with the old seal in hand). They look exactly the same, just yours is a smaller bore.

If you had to remove the inner seal to make it fit, something's not right.

 

[Bruce]

Either not the right seal, or the housing is cracked where the seal goes in.

 

[IQ45]

All,
This is my first post and I used the search feature first, so please bear with me...I have a '94 model Ranger SuperCab, 4.0 with the A4LD. I just put fresh U-joints, carrier bearing, and extension housing seal in it and after test driving, found the seal had worked out slightly and allowed about 1 quart of fluid to escape. I refilled, tapped the seal back in and drove it a few miles, and the seal came out further. The carrier bearing appears square with the driveshaft and it was slightly different from the O.E., with dust covers where the original did not. I could only use the cover on the differential side of the bearing because the one towards the extension housing seemed too loose and I felt it might cut a groove, so I removed it. I made sure I kept all of the components in the same positions (marking with paint) for balance. Hope you folks can help.
Thanks and great forum,
IQ45

Thanks to everyone who made a recommendation. I cleaned the inside of the extension housing, installed a new seal, took the other metal dust cover off the carrier bearing, and checked to make sure the u-joints were not damaged. Drove the truck 500 miles and the carrier bearing came apart. I was driving 10mph when the thumping started, actually thinking I was driving on a flat tire on a bumpy berm. Pushed the shaft and bearing back up into the support and limped 5 miles without it flying apart again. Had a drive line specialist put a fresh carrier bearing on the shaft, new u-joint on the front front location of the rear shaft, and drove 350 miles. The seal stays in, but there is a nasty shimmy from 35-45mph that wasn't there before. Notice the vibration whether accelerating/decelerating. Run on up to 55-60 and it smooths out. 65-70 and starts to shimmy again. Any ideas?
Thanks,
IQ45

 

[99stepside]

sounds alot like my truck. the seal keeps coming out and leaking a little bit of fluid whereever i park, I just had the transmission completely master overhauled. i took it back to the shop and found that because i had driven the truck for so long that it had actually cracked and warped the extension housing. i take it in tommorrow to get that fixed. i will let you know how it goes.
Now i dont mean to jack your thread but i have a few questions as well, has anyone ever heard of "firm Shift". the place i went to fixed the tranny but it seems to shift really hard. i asked the owner of the shop if it was normal and he said he had thrown in a heavy duty torque converter and heavy duty shifter kit. does this sound right.

I am also getting a "kick" in between 2nd and 3rd gear whenever i let off on the gas.

and the last question is i think i have a 4r44e tranny but whe he was talking to another shop he said i had a A4LD. is that the same or not?

Thanks and sorry i jacked your thread.
99 stepside

 

[rboyer]

I'm wondering if the drive line specialist that did your carrier bearing matchmarked the driveshaft when he pulled it to make sure it stayed balanced?

 

[IQ45]

I'm wondering if the drive line specialist that did your carrier bearing matchmarked the driveshaft when he pulled it to make sure it stayed balanced?

That's what I'm thinking...I paint marked everything when I disassembled, and used an electric pencil when pulling the yoke off the short driveshaft to install the carrier bearing. He was finished in under 20 minutes but I chalked that up to experience. I may need to pull the shafts out and run them downtown to have the balance checked. Also, does anyone have any surefire tricks for guaranteeing the carrier bearing is square with the driveshaft? The specialist said push down/back on it when tightening it down to insure a gap at the rear seal. I found the 1st replacement had a time lining up the bolts. With the 2nd replacement the bolts fell into the holes beautifully using the factory speed nut fasteners. I just wonder if I should use washer/lock washer combinations and a straight edge rather than those things?
Thanks,
IQ45