Do Axle Shaft And Bearing Surfaces Need A Polished Surface?

[Fitz98]

I wanted to clean up a little surface rust on my seal surface area before reinstalling my axle shafts. I have used a small stainless wire brush, some 220 wet sand paper and a green scotchbrite pad so far. Do I need to bring that seal and bearing surface to a polish to prevent friction and leakage or are 220 scratches OK?

 

[Kestas]

The seal body mounting surface isn't too picky. The surface riding against the seal lip needs to be perfect. I'm not sure that 220 grit is good enough. I'd aim for 400. The finer, the better.

Also important is what is called the "lead angle" of the grind lines. This is the angle the grind lines deviate from circumferentially perfectly perpendicular to the shaft axis. Angled one way the oil can be pumped out. Angled the other way the environment can pumped in.

 

[mk378]

If there's a seal groove and the new seal is going to run in the same place, it's likely to leak. Replace the axle or put a repair sleeve on it.

 

[Chris142]

The area where the bearing rides must be perfect. Any scratches will cause bearing failure in short order.