To speedi-sleeve or not to sleeve?

[Chris727]

Hi, I was going to paint the rear axle tubes and hubs on the B212, when I noticed the axle seals leak. I removed the hubs and was going to replace the seals but when cleaning the shaft with emery cloth, I noticed a little slop, you can wiggle the axle within the seal, only very slightly, less than 1/32 of an inch, but I also noticed there was a groove worn near the seals, I think someone put new seals in and pressed them in a little further to find an unworn spot on the axle tube, so it sounds like I need either an axle tube (I have a good used one somewhere) or I could use the speedi-sleeve mentioned in the tech-tips article. I have never seen them and would like to know how they work, do they just slide over the tube or do you have to machine the tube for them to fit, what keeps them in place? Do they increase the diameter of the axle to a size greater than the original, and if so is this bad for the seal? Also how long do the sleeves last? Thanks in advance. Chris

[MPH]

Sounds like you have some wear in the axle bushings causing the play. Think my LL was closer to 1/8 inch and new seals didn't help. If i were you I'd try putting the seals in new and not set them quite as deep as normal for a new wear surface.

[Chris727]

Thanks Martin, it is the whole tube assembly that has the slight play, the solid axle is tight where it rides in the tube. The worn area near the seals is too wide to move the seals to an unworn area. I found this pdf from SKF that gives the sizes of all their sleeves, I think I might try the sleeves, I don't really like the idea of splitting the case to swap axle tubes. http://www.skf.com/files/100131.pdf

[builder386]

I've used a sleeve on a harmonic balancer on a Chevy engine. you use the same size seal as the sleeve is very thin.