Spent the weekend removing, dis-assembling, and cleaning the front axle from
my DUKW. Stuff looks ok, about what you'd expect for a 50 year old amphibious
vehicle which was not properly maintained. Since I want to have some
dependable fun swimming and driving this thing, I need to do some maintenance
and do it right the first time.
My seal search is on.
The DUKW inner axle shaft seal on the front axle, GM-3659486, G085-3112520,
apparently is the only axle seal common to both the DUKW and the CCKW. Do you
CCKW or DUKW guys (who actually drive their trucks) use NOS seals or are there
better seals available? If NOS is the way to go, do you have 3 you'd be
willing to part with and at what price? If there are better seals now
available, would you be willing to share the part numbers?
Looks like the DUKW uses the same pinion seal on each of the three axles,
GM-3675072, G501-0382831. I'm gonna' need four of 'em.
The front wheel hubs use an inner bearing seal, GM-3675092, G501-0382833.
Found two, would like one more.
The rear wheel hubs use an inner bearing seal, GM-3675073, H013-0500194. I'm
gonna' need 5.
If this were a road truck, I'd just take the old seals down to my local seal
supply house and have them matched with current seals. (assuming they are
standard size) The trouble is, I'm brand new at this military vehicle thing,
and the seals on my DUKW look different than any automotive type axle or
bearing seal I've used before. Could be just the way they made seals in the
40's, could be just the way they made military seals, or could be something
special because the vehicle is amphibious. I don't know.
Again, should I use NOS or is there something better available from my local
seal supply house? (and what are the part numbers?) If NOS is the way to go,
anybody got some of these noted above for sale before I start calling the
official MV parts suppliers?
I was surprised, in looking through my manuals, that the rear axle wheel
bearings are lubricated with grease. Most (all?) full floating rear ends I
have previously worked on had the wheel bearings lubricated with oil from the
differential. (I realize you normally grease the bearings anyway after
servicing to provide lubrication until the oil makes it's way out to the
bearings.) But in the case of my DUKW, there appears to be a second seal at
the end of the outer bearing retaining nut which looks like it meant to keep
oil in the spindle. Or is it to keep the inevitable water out of the dif oil?
Is this a quirk of just DUKW's, or are the CCKW "banjo" axles the same?
Speaking of grease, seems to me that boat trailer grease would be appropriate
for the wheel bearings on my DUKW. Good idea, bad idea,....? Does it really
matter?
Thanks for the help,
Mike Bennett 1944 DUKW
PG&E
MAB5@pge.com
(209) 434-9343
Fresno, California, USA
Hoping the water stays out and the grease/oil stays in.
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