I could use a little technical help.
I found out through Dale A that when installing his rear disc brakes,
one re-uses a couple of 'plates' normally _outboard_ of the old drum
brake backing plate. One is a flat disc, a giant washer. No real problem
here, although it's eerily like the one included in the kit -- he says
use both. The other one is much thinner, and has a boss molded into it
to hold a grease seal. This one is causing me concern.
I cleaned it up, and then figured to knock out the old seal, I had
ordered a pair from Rick at SS. The thin plate looked to bend if I beat
on it, so I figured on using the entire axle housing as a 'jig'. I stood
it on one end, which put the other end at chest height, sorta. I bolted
the plate in place, boss up, as if were being installed. Then I took a
screwdriver to try driving out the old seal, banging on the metal part
farthest away from the boss. I expected to knock in down inside the
empty axle housing, where I could retrieve it.
Nope. All I did was bend it a bit; so I pulled it out and started
inspecting it (should perhaps have done this earlier). The seal, is of
course, primarily rubber, and has one of those coil-spring-in-a-loop
bits like they hold the front balljoint boots on with. I see a metal
ring like a washer on the side away from the boss; that's what I was
banging on and thought it to be part of the seal and would come out. Now
I'm not so sure. It looks almost like it's 'sealed in place'. An
inspection of the new seals (SS label says for Alpine I through IV, then
"RA21T" handwritten over that), shows that it's rubber and spring but no
metal. So; leave the metal part in, and somehow get out the old rubber
and install the new (and if so, _how_). Do I just slam away at the
little metal ring until it comes out, and discard (implying that the new
seal is purposely a different design and doesn't need the metal bit?).
Did I ruin something (and can it be replaced)?
Second question: My nephew was by last night, he's in the auto parts
trade w/a dealer, picked up the Toyota upper BJ boots and didn't pick up
the VW type II lower boots because the dealer want $30 each (!) for
them. It that right? Jeez! Yes, he did ask if they were trying to charge
him for entire BJ's.
Lawrence R. Wright
Purchasing Analyst
Andrews Office Products Div. of USOP
larry.wright@usop.com (new)
Ph. 301.386.7923 Fx. 301.386.5333
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