Inspecting And Preparing The Spindle
- Thoroughly clean the spindle with solvent and a clean, dry shop rag, then examine the spindle for flaws.
- Remove any rust, old sealant, and roughness from the entire length of the seal journal. Use a wire brush and crocus cloth to polish the seal journal area of the spindle. Fill deep scratches or chisel marks with a hardening gasket material and redress the damaged area. Clean all threads and keyways thoroughly with a wire brush to avoid false bearing adjustment and to avoid introduction of contaminants into the lubricant cavity.
- Sharp edges on the lead-in chamfer on the seal's bearing shoulder should be rounded off with a file or oilstone.
- Wipe the entire spindle surface with a clean, dry cloth, making certain the spindle is completely free of dirt, grit, chips, or other abrasives which could damage the seal's inner surface and cause oil leakage. Clean all threads and keyways.
- Apply a thin coat of non-hardening sealant to the axle shoulder when installing sealing systems which employ an axle ring or wear sleeve.