MFWD axle leaking

[Anonymous-0]

I have a ZF MFWD front axle on a Deutz 7120 (1988 through 1990 or so) that seeps where the knuckle comes out of the axle housing just before going into the front wheel (previous owner had twine wrapped around it)

How big of a job is it to repair/replace?
Not a big deal at the moment - but would like to get it fixed......

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

Sounds like you mean the front axle shaft seal at the housing, can sometime cheat and pull the tie rod and kin pins, pull the knuckle and shaft out and replace the seal. Careful when replacing because the machining on the axle can tear the seal since the axle shaft is pretty heavy, don't slide it on the seal.

Twine is the usual killer of these suckers but fence wire is also really bad.

 

[RodinNS]

If you're talking about the shaft seal in tha back side of the swivel casing then you generally dis-assemble the hub completly and then pull the king pins and remove the hub. It's not difficult to REMOVE the entire hub assembly complete with the axle shaft, but you must at minimum remove the cover/carrier assembly from the outside of the hub to free the drive shaft. The real trick to this method is the re-installation. Man handling that complete swivel casing and shaft is not easy whilst you are trying to get that shaft into the differential. I put the shaft in first and then the swivel over top...

but.... I think you mean the larger seal that't in the hub itself? That's the one that the twine usually gets at. To change that you remove the wheel, then the cover/carrier assembly from the hub. Then remove the shaft snap rings/retainer and then remove the ring gear. There are different configuerations in there depending on the axle.... but basically once the ring is off you can pull the hub assembly with the bearings. That may require a substantial pull from a big gear puller. The seal is in the back side of the hub....
On re-installation I would suggest that you install new bolts in the ring gear if it's that type, clean and dry the bolts and holes with ether, put a dab of Loctite 262 (red) on each and then torque to spec....
The rest is pretty straight forward.

Rod