Currie Dana 60 axle seal (should I attempt fixing it myself?)

RHanna · Mar 14, 2021

I believe the passenger side seal has failed.
last week I changed the gear oil in my rear rock jock Dana 60. The oil level was very low because I stuck my finger into the fill hole and couldn’t touch the oil. Sucked out as much of the old oil and filled it back up.

We went down to hawk pride off-road yeasterday and when we got back to the hotel the rear tire interior was covered in oil. Does anyone have experience working on one of these axles? I don’t know if I should attempt fixing it myself or bring it to a shop.
I need the emergency brakes fixed also because I left them on and drove a few feet in reverse and I’m pretty sure I destroyed them.

Jerry Bransford · Mar 14, 2021

@mrblaine is the guy I'd ask about that. Actually I think that seal may be impossible to replace/fix, you'd be better off swapping that for my beefed up Dana 44. The good guy that I am I'll cover the shipping charges.

RHanna · Mar 14, 2021

Jerry Bransford said:
@mrblaine is the guy I'd ask about that. Actually I think that seal may be impossible to replace/fix, you'd be better off swapping that for my beefed up Dana 44. The good guy that I am I'll cover the shipping charges.

That’s very kind of you.
I wonder if I just overfilled it. I pulled 2 quarts out and used 4.5 bottles and it still wasn’t up to the full plug.

mrblaine · Mar 14, 2021

rhanna said:
That’s very kind of you.
I wonder if I just overfilled it. I pulled 2 quarts out and used 4.5 bottles and it still wasn’t up to the full plug.

RJ axles are filled by volume, not level.

RHanna · Mar 15, 2021

mrblaine said:
RJ axles are filled by volume, not level.

When it spills out like mine, does it ruin the seal or is it ok?
Does it normally only come out of one side?

mrblaine · Mar 15, 2021

rhanna said:
When it spills out like mine, does it ruin the seal or is it ok?
Does it normally only come out of one side?

No way to know. Overfilling rarely causes the fluid to exit via an axle seal. Typically what happens is the spinning axle shaft picks up the fluid and slings it into the breather vent fitting where the continual pressure eventually pumps it out the breather hose.

I'd make sure the breather isn't plugged and get the fill volume correct to diagnose anything else.

RHanna · Mar 19, 2021

mrblaine said:
No way to know. Overfilling rarely causes the fluid to exit via an axle seal. Typically what happens is the spinning axle shaft picks up the fluid and slings it into the breather vent fitting where the continual pressure eventually pumps it out the breather hose.

I'd make sure the breather isn't plugged and get the fill volume correct to diagnose anything else.

Just got back from Gatlinburg family vacation.
Still have to pull the breather and check if that's plugged.
I pull about 1.5 quarts out of the diff so it would hopefully stop spilling everywhere. I pulled the tire off and checked the emergency brake. As soon as I pulled the rotor it just fell on the driveway

I thought I remember asking currie what brakes I should ask for if I wanted to change the rotor and pads. I wonder if the emergency brakes are just the same, something like 2000 explorer.

mrblaine · Mar 19, 2021

rhanna said:
Just got back from Gatlinburg family vacation.
Still have to pull the breather and check if that's plugged.
I pull about 1.5 quarts out of the diff so it would hopefully stop spilling everywhere. I pulled the tire off and checked the emergency brake. As soon as I pulled the rotor it just fell on the drivewayView attachment 235787 View attachment 235788 View attachment 235789

I thought I remember asking currie what brakes I should ask for if I wanted to change the rotor and pads. I wonder if the emergency brakes are just the same, something like 2000 explorer.

They are most likely the Stop Tech backing plates. When you pull the axle out, if the holes in the backing plate are L shaped for at least 2 of them, that is the ST stuff.

OldGloryLJ · Mar 19, 2021

mrblaine said:
They are most likely the Stop Tech backing plates. When you pull the axle out, if the holes in the backing plate are L shaped for at least 2 of them, that is the ST stuff.

Those look a lot like mine and I can attest they don't like to be driven in reverse while engaged. Currie probably sells a lot of them...
https://www.currieenterprises.com/CE-6036
Are they not the same as the ones BMB sells?

mrblaine · Mar 19, 2021

OldGloryLJ said:
Those look a lot like mine and I can attest they don't like to be driven in reverse while engaged. Currie probably sells a lot of them...
https://www.currieenterprises.com/CE-6036
Are they not the same as the ones BMB sells?

They call them Explorer Backing plates but they are not. They are the Dana 44/Ford 8.8 combination plate that works with both. No, they do not like being driven with the parking brake applied. Shears the anchor point right off and wads the shoes and hardware up into an unrecognizable mess.

They are the same as we sell since we are a Stop Tech dealer.

RHanna · Mar 20, 2021

Thanks guys, this helps a lot.

I haven't had time to investigate more but it's still leaking fluid after I pulled 1.5 quarts out.
I think I'll have to replace the cable also. I believe I'm missing the piece that engages the brake when I compare my picture to the stock photo on Currie's site.

RHanna · Mar 22, 2021

mrblaine said:
They are most likely the Stop Tech backing plates. When you pull the axle out, if the holes in the backing plate are L shaped for at least 2 of them, that is the ST stuff.

A little hard to see but they had 2 L shaped holes

I think I'll replace the rotor and pads while I'm at it on both sides.

It looks like there is possible a piece that I'll have to pull out or can I leave that inside?

I'm guessing I shouldn't be able to move the seal and bearing

RHanna · Mar 30, 2021

May be a little hard to see but the seal is pretty messed up. It's almost like the part next to the shaft was shoved underneath.

I was able to cut the retainer collar off and the inside bearing ring. I bought a 20 ton press from harbor freight and I have the new seal and bearing pressing with about 1/4 inch more to push. It did make a pretty loud bang. Right now the press isn't pressing anymore but I think the bottle jack needs more fluid. I would have expected everything to press on easier.

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Currie Dana 60 axle seal (should I attempt fixing it myself?)

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