Kevin,
I had my '57 axles metalized by a local machinist. He only charged me for
materials ($35.00) because he's a neighbor and a fellow car nut. A place in
Denver quoted me $125.00 a piece to do a flame spray process. My machinist
friend turned down the seal surface and applied a sintered metal product that is
very hard but is also brittle so you don't want to bang it on something before
it's installed. Then he polished the surface back to the original o.d. I haven't
installed the axles but I will report on whether or not they leak. On my other
NAPCO axles, the wear on the seal surface doesn't seem as bad and I'm going to
try them as is. The new seals, from Jim Carter or NAPA auto parts, appear to be
tight enough to make a seal. They also are a little thinner than the original
leather ones so they will ride on a different palce on the axle so that might
help. Good Luck.
Larry Jones
Kevin D. Pennell wrote:
> From: "Kevin D. Pennell" <oletwuk@fastrus.com>
>
> Hi all,
>
> Was just inspecting axles again, and saw the surfaces where the axle seal
> seats. I've been waiting for parts to come back from the machinist, and
> forgot about this particular problem. I'm glad I looked!
>
> There is a raised highly polished surface (about an inch in length) on the
> axle shaft where the oil seal seats against it. I grenaded a Rzeppa (CV)
> Joint which allowed the axle to "settle" in the housing (this is a NAPCO 4x4
> front drive axle.) The axle rubbed on the metal outer ring of the seal,
> causing some indentation on the axle surface. Installing a new seal isn't
> going to cure this. It'll leak like a sieve.
>
> I'm brainstorming possible cure's here: Is there a way to "metalize" this
> surface and restore it, or machine it and maybe find a seal with the correct
> ID.? How about machine it down and re-sleeve it to the correct size?
> Possibly make a spacer to install behind the seal to move the location of
> the seal further outward on the axle shaft, where it will have a good
> surface???
>
> Any experience on this?
>
> Kevin P.
> '59 Apache 38/NAPCO
>
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