SD1 rear axle.

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 9:26 am

How are the wheel bearings on an SD1 rear axle lubricated? Packed with grease for life?

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 10:56 am

Hi
if they are like most it's splash lubrication down the tubes fron the center section, the level is usually set to just enter the inboard end of the tube when stationary. When you turn left the right one gets lubricated and visa versa same with the pinion bearing.
Best regards
Mike

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 1:39 pm

I'm just curious as it arose from a discussion elsewhere - and I've not taken one apart for overhaul. I do have a junk spare I used as a mule for mocking up my disc brake conversion, though. And the bearings on that showed signs of oil rather than grease. But since it hadn't been run in years, difficult to be certain.

The SD1 BL manual talks about a second oil seal somewhere down the 'tube' - but doesn't show it in the exploded diagram. But a wheel bearing kit was found with two (different) oil seals.

So my thinking was if there is a second oil seal, on the other side of the bearing, it wouldn't get oil from the diff?

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:12 pm

Hi
On the ford 9" in the slingshot the oil seal is part of the ball race, no other oil seals or other malarky. You can get oil pumps for these axels but they just supply oil to the pinion bearing area and that is mainly to cool things rather than lubricate (you can get an oil cooler to go with the pump

Best regards
Mike

minorv8 · Post by **minorv8** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 5:39 am

There is another oil seal about 3" from the tube flange.

Bearing kits from Rimmers include a grease sachet so both these suggests that there is no oil getting into the bearings. Instead, these are greased and hope to last until ... ?

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID006135

DaveEFI · Post by **DaveEFI** » Thu Oct 10, 2013 7:58 am

minorv8 wrote:There is another oil seal about 3" from the tube flange.

Bearing kits from Rimmers include a grease sachet so both these suggests that there is no oil getting into the bearings. Instead, these are greased and hope to last until ... ?

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID006135

Interesting. That clearly shows the inner seal - the SD1 one doesn't.

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID008985

There is no mention in the service instructions about lubricating these - and mine has never been done in 30 years.

The SD1 manual mentions packing the (outer) seal with grease, but makes no mention of doing this to the bearing.

minorv8 · Post by **minorv8** » Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:55 am

Do the search by part number (GHS 186) and you´ll find it:

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID008988