JEEP XJ DANA 30 OUTER AXLE TUBE SEALS - THE COMPLETE INSTALLATION GUIDE

I was extremely excited to install Ten Factory Dana 30/44 outer axle tube seals. I installed them with some RTV and they went in pretty easy with a 2x3 and a BFH. There was some clearance issues that needed to be dealt with using an angle grinder! #jeep #cherokee #dana30 #axleseals
Please consider donating to the Polar Plunge, a fundraising event supporting the Special Olympics:
Eric
www.classy.org/fundraiser/186...
Doug
www.classy.org/fundraiser/184...
Dan
www.classy.org/fundraiser/188...
• No Copyright Music:
Morning by LiQWYD - Morning
/ liqwyd
Hey, what’s up guys? I hope you enjoyed another project. Please remember that this video product is meant for entertainment purposes only. Also please remember I am not a professional and I have no professional training so don’t try this at home. If you decide to modify or fixing your own vehicle please keep it legal, roadworthy, and most importantly SAFE. Thanks for watching and I’ll see you on the next project!

[@jeffmarkov8387]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for posting this video, I was staring at my XJ's axle tube wondering how that plastic circle was gonna keep the water and mud out.....then i stumbled on your video. Bought those seals and have one installed last night. Thanks Dan!!

[@ProjectDanH]

Glad I could help!!!

[@666Necropsy]

great job. love to see others go above and beyond in there repairs.

[@ProjectDanH]

thanks man!

[@supercharged00gtp]

My son is special needs, to see you doing a plunge for Special Olympics is awesome!

[@ProjectDanH]

Thanks Rich, I appreciate your feed back. God Bless your son. 🙏

[@DEInTheGarage]

I love your attention to detail bro. It is no wonder your XJ looks so damn nice and clean

[@ProjectDanH]

Thanks again Doug! you can take for a spin on Saturday, Hope it doesn't disappoint in person! Lol

[@ericgunnyporter8964]

Dan Great job I will get mine done as well thanks for the grind tips

[@ProjectDanH]

No problem 👍

[@TheBeardedJeeper]

Great video I really like your tool organization it makes the inner OCD in me happy

[@ProjectDanH]

Hahaha. Thank you for appreciating my OCD! My garage is small so every inch counts! . (Frank Schwartz where you at?)

[@dawoodk103]

Great information young man, God bless .

[@ProjectDanH]

Thank you. God bless you too.

[@jonathanskogebo728]

they make angled grease fittings for future reference

[@ProjectDanH]

the store was closed when I installed them 🤣🤣🤣

[@seandenny2412]

I like your videos, thanks for do them!

[@ProjectDanH]

my pleasure Sean!

[@Cherokee-sz7xi]

Thanks for the shout out brother! Wish I could go with you to jersey to meet up with D+E ! Great job on the video !

[@ProjectDanH]

You're welcome man! I always appreciate good input. The Jersey trip should be a great time!

[@nimitz87]

I think they make an angled zerk fitting too... I know, two years later. I LOVE both your vids!!! I am preserving my 92 and your instructions of things that CAN go wrong are great as well as your HOT - TO!! Also, man crushing on your New England accent :).. In a straight guy kinda way

[@ProjectDanH]

LMAO! Thanks bro! all the stores were closed when I realized I needed the angled zerks!! haha

[@cernut]

There are elbow (90 degree) grease fittings, I use them on the ball joints for easier greasing.

[@ProjectDanH]

That would be perfect. It woulda been awesome if the seals came with the elbow fittings pre installed

[@DEInTheGarage]

You are so right, Dan... If you can have the foresight to spray down the bolts before the project starts you will thank yourself. haha. Another awesome vid and project. I have actually never replaced those axle seals...

[@ProjectDanH]

Ahh HA!! Another one. Sorry Dude!

[@thecherokeechannel688]

Awesome!

[@ProjectDanH]

Thank Brother!

[@adamslosar2177]

Excellent!

[@ProjectDanH]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jpro132]

Some random advice on a really old video that you may or may not have figured out by now. Buy different bolts for the hub, those 12 point will strip easily when they start to rust. Also putting a socket on it to hit can damage your socket so the ratchet no longer goes in. I just buy new grade 8 hex bolts from the hardware store and use the old ones to remove all future hubs and just hit the 12 point head itself. Air hammer helps a ton as well but be careful not to do too much at once so you don't get it crooked and pinch a bolt and make it a pain to remove. Also never hit your tie rod, even with the nut on you can damage the tie rod or the castle nut itself. You should hit the side of the knuckle where the tie rod goes through it, that way there is no damage to the tie rod and you're hitting a thick piece of steel so it won't get hurt either. I suggest putting the castle nut on for a couple threads to catch the tie rod from hitting the ground though like you did in the video. PB is not a good rust penetrant, it's designed as a lubricant/penetrant and that makes it only ok as a rust penetrant since those are 2 completely things that require different types of fluid. Better options are Liquid Wrench Rust Penetrant, Free All and Seafoam Deep Creep, there's other but those are my personal favorites. Adding anti-sieze to the hub mounting surface and the rotor without first cleaning them of rust completely or by adding a whole lot of it can cause alignment issue with the parts and create a vibration or even death wobble. Also if grease comes out of the seal it's over full and created an opening for contaminants to enter the seal which completely defeats the purpose of the seal. You should never fill something with grease until the grease comes out, just a couple pumps of grease every oil change is all that's needed to keep things going. My advice is all from being an alignment technician in the rust belt for about 2 decades so obviously I'm used to dealing with much rustier vehicles than what you showed but hopefully it helps still. Also I find it funny everyone is saying to use an angled zirk fitting but they don't realize if the grease gun won't clip on the zirk fitting then the angled fitting won't have enough room to thread into the seal housing without removing it first and possibly damaging it or the seals.

[@Deadbuck73]

Doing a little binge watching this morning before I get out there to see why the ole girl is weird after fighting the track bar replacement battle. Need some motivation! As you said there’s nothing wrong with asking the big man for help! Here I go!

[@DEInTheGarage]

HELL YEA DUDE! POLAR PLUNGE!

[@ProjectDanH]

Looking forward to it brother!

[@rick850angler6]

Great video man I’m doing my tj soon and I’ll have this vid on stand by 🇺🇸🦅👊👍

[@ProjectDanH]

Right on!

[@danhambrick6331]

Nice job Dan.Thanks for the tip on that grease zerk,I will remember that when I install my tube seals.P.S. good luck with that Polar Plunge with D and E.....

[@ProjectDanH]

Thanks Dan! I will never go without seals ever again.. you'll love em!

[@ProjectDanH]

Dan, thank you so much for the donation. That's very generous of you. Thanks always for the support. 👊

[@evanjones6704]

Damn Dan, great video! The editing, and info was perfect. My seals have since tore so now I need to find a way to remove these. I won a cheaper set with no way to replace the seals unfortunately.

[@ProjectDanH]

Thanks brother, I really appreciate you noticing the editing 👍. can you use an axle bearing puller?

[@evanjones6704]

Project Dan H yes I could have but didn’t have one. Ended up using two vise grips and a pry bar to get the out 💪🏻

[@ProjectDanH]

@@evanjones6704 yea Buddy!! Teach that sucker who's boss 💪👊

[@stevenlinder230]

Do the jeep ZJ rear disc conversion. I did mine and it’s a great upgrade. I got everything from a junkyard. Very easy. Nice Jeep! Put some discs on it!

[@ProjectDanH]

I have parts ZJ already.. just gotta find the time, but it Will happen!

[@JoeVizethum]

another good video, mate ! I did torque down the hub nut with 175 ft lbs - by the book ......

[@ProjectDanH]

Nice one! Thanks for watchin!!

[@scottgrigsby4210]

If you got one just use a 10" 2 jaw puller to pull hub off it works great, I just did this yesterday

[@ProjectDanH]

sweet, I'll have to buy a new tool!

[@walther9161]

Maybe before hand put in a 90 degree Fitting but hindsight is always 2020. Great vid!!!

[@ProjectDanH]

LMAO.. I woulda if I knew it wouldn't fit! once I found out I had an issue the stores were closed 🤣🤣. thanks for watching 👍

[@troyrichardson7569]

i took my axels off to replace iner seals and i could not belive all the corochion inside axel tube.... i couldnt belive how cheap the stock outer seals where .. this is going to be a great up grade

[@ProjectDanH]

right? how dare they call them seals.. they're just a clump of plastic!

[@forrestcrabbe]

Ha! Not my chair not my problem... bwaahaahaa y'all have a badass day 🤘

[@ProjectDanH]

Haha!

[@johnvon9268]

Thanks mate, I am re building my front axle and was wondering if there was something better for the outer \m/

[@ProjectDanH]

this works excellent!

[@yurru2273]

They do make a grease gun adapter (Needle Nose) that will let you grease any fitting no matter how little room there is.

[@ProjectDanH]

all stuff I didn't know I needed till after they were installed and the stores were closed 🤣🤣🤣

[@JeepITguy]

The zerk clearance is why you install them forward. Worrying about crus getting on the zerk is ridiculous

[@ianclark6354]

Believe it or not the best way to remove a hub assembly is with an old hatchet with a good wedge on it just tap it right into the seam!!!

[@mikegriego3671]

I just ordered a pair of seals for my xj. My U joints are gone too, so while I'm at it...

[@ProjectDanH]

exactly Mike! 👍

[@juanbarturen2726]

Very nice.I have a 91 Wrangler YJ. Dana 30. I installed a one piece Cherokee axle , and yes , I did something I shouldn't have. I installed a Spartan locker. Now my axle stays locked. Tires squeal when I turn. And it ate my front tires. I hate to go back to my two piece axle. But the seal won't fit on that axle. What would you do? I like having a locker, but it may have to go.

[@ProjectDanH]

Oh man, tough call... upgrade to Rubicon D44s!!!

[@birwin2564]

I noticed you're running a wj overland steering wheel. Did you manage to make the radio controls work? Also does the cruise work?

[@ProjectDanH]

cruise control works and I haven't gotten around to hooking up the steering wheel radio controls but they will work soon 👍

[@garyhowell738]

Instead of grinding your axle housing, you can pick up angled grease zerks for the seals

[@ProjectDanH]

yea, by the time I realized there was a clearance issue the stores were already closed for the night... I was fed up and wanted em in! It didn't take much to clearance them.

[@garyhowell738]

Been there

[@shaggyduder]

Those seals are a great ideas in principle, but they only last a few thousand miles. I went through 3 pairs before I gave up on them, after a few thousand miles, they wont' keep water out, they still do a fair job on dirt though.

[@cablenowadays6586]

Not you can’t use Inner C gussets with these. And if you are running axle C Gussets i would recommend buying 45* grease fittings and making them come out at the top and bend towards the hub side.

[@ProjectDanH]

Good Info!

[@yamaha1675]

I have fluid leaking from there. Does that mean it's an inter seal where the difference has to be removed?

[@richardduncan7381]

I watched a video earlier where the guy filed down the side of his grease gun nozzle. May be a little better than shaving that axle. :)

[@ProjectDanH]

Haha! Of course! He took the easy way out! No short cuts for me! LMAO

[@chinamanjw]

You could also use a grease needle

[@Vickyvee97]

Great video but there are extended Grease zerk fittings you could get for it.

[@ProjectDanH]

Thank you! not at 10pm when the store was closed 🤣🤣🤣

[@physicalstarfighter2131]

what type of RTV do you use...i.e. gasket type sealer or something else? Thanks good video by the way.

[@ProjectDanH]

Thank you! I believed in this video i used a tube of Permatex Ultra Black Maximum Oil Resistance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker (.5 oz.)

[@khndenmark]

Nice exhaust sound, what is the name of it? Thanks for all your videos. Regards from Denmark

[@ProjectDanH]

Thank you. Flow master series 40 muffler

[@jeffmarkov8387]

I am rebuilding the other side tomorrow

[@ProjectDanH]

God Speed Brother!!

[@jeffmarkov8387]

Well, all iwrote about is done, but now i have a blasted leaky proportioning valve

[@DEInTheGarage]

What rims are those?? I always thought they were aftermarket, but you have the Jeep center caps..

[@ProjectDanH]

OEM 2012 Dodge Challenger take offs. MOPAR baby! Powder coated black to match and they bolt right on. All I had to do was hunt down JEEP center caps that fit. Attention to detail at its best! Lol

[@DEInTheGarage]

@@ProjectDanH Damn dude! Who would have guessed. I assumed newer mopar cars had some kind of awful Euro bolt pattern like 5x100mm or something. Good to know

[@ProjectDanH]

@@DEInTheGarage ha! Definitely a pleasant surprise!

[@Scrapy-ih7ob]

I've watched probably 1/2 dozen videos on Danna 44 trying to figure out if there is a seal or not in the outer housing section, my Haynes manual says there "slinger seal" but I can find that seal in any parts store. So as I watch you video I again se these seals being used are they after market to solve an issue?

[@ProjectDanH]

the OEM "seal" is just a lame dust cover. these are real seals that won't let crud into your axle tube

[@SooSmokie]

They are just dust covers basically. Innee seals is what counts

[@richardmauch1042]

Damn how do you not come out looking like the ten man with all that anti seize!

[@ProjectDanH]

lol, i do! 🤣

[@SlushGamingg]

i need axle seal that fits passenger side 1 piece axle conversion i have an 85 and need one that fits 84-86 since made by amc anyone know part number ive tried many seals already

[@jerrywhalen2100]

Well it's been awhile how are those seals holding up Happy New Year

[@ProjectDanH]

they're still great! happy new year!

[@rayvarnson8976]

Use a needle point for the grease.

[@VINNY5674]

Could have used an elbow zerk fitting?

[@ProjectDanH]

The stores were closed already

[@felishiadarling]

On the grease fitting, can’t you just unscrew it and poi in a flat one and use the needle to grease it?

[@ProjectDanH]

Sure

[@Jdres123]

Would these seals actually prevent a fluid leak if the inner seals failed?

[@ProjectDanH]

yes I believe so, it pretty tight. But then again I don't see that much fluid reaching the outer seals. I think it's more important to keep the debris out.

[@shaimran8933]

Hey man how are these outter tube seals going? Ive heard mixed things about them and people say to go stock seals cause these aftermarket ones leak so id love to hear input

[@ProjectDanH]

Love em! I just installed more on another XJ

[@shaimran8933]

@@ProjectDanH how long have they been lasting you? gonna bite the bullet and buy these today for my Xj

[@antytrend]

What is the white stuff brushed on at 11 minutes 51 seconds?

[@ProjectDanH]

Anti seize!

[@mitchelllawrentz766]

What if the inner seal goes bad will the fluid leak past these ?

[@ProjectDanH]

Great question. It most likely will

[@Banchewell]

Great video, one comment on the hub removal since I haven't seen it mentioned yet. There's an easier way that you can do by yourself that require not manual effort. Use the strength of the car to get the hubs out. Put a 3" 1/2 socket extension (the basic one) between the back side of the hub and on the back part of the axle assembly, it should just fit if you have to steering on so you can move it by hand, then just turn the steering wheel to rotate the hub towards the extension set and viola, it presses out like a hydraulic press by the power of yoy power steering. Found that trick on a forum after 2 hours of trying to pound my routed ones out and it worked in seconds.

[@Sniperssx]

Can that fit 9n Dana 44 did that portact from oil drain

[@ProjectDanH]

I believe it can fit D44

[@terrytinagero777]

What ball joint kit was that? Thanks

[@ProjectDanH]

Just one from Advance auto

[@Fossildobber]

are these seals found on 1987 jeep yj's?

[@ProjectDanH]

I don't think so. d30s don't have seals from the factory

[@james4wd236]

Looks easy enough, Im about to rebuild and re-gear my Dana 44 where the actual axle seals are trashed. New seals and these new insert and she should be good for another 245,000 miles. Just a quick reference for the future, they do sell grease needles nozzle's that can be used for tight spaces like this one and U-joints. Its a needle nozzle that fits in your grease gun and comes to the point that fits inside the grease zerk. Go to 2:55 on this video to see how it works - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJ6tf52dYt94gaM

[@ProjectDanH]

I'll check it out, thanks!

[@burtbeesome8150]

they make zirc fittings on a 45 degree angle ya putz.

[@ProjectDanH]

The Store was no longer open when I realized I needed them 😉

[@SooSmokie]

Whats the point of these with inner seals? All these seals do is stop dust from getting in

[@ProjectDanH]

They keep all the crap out of your axle tubes! North east rot prevention is key 1 - In the winter keeping out the salty sludge will prevent your tubes from rotting. 2 - in the summer keeping out salty sand and salt water while driving on the beach will help prevent your tubes from rotting.

[@SooSmokie]

@@ProjectDanH ok that makes sense.

[@SooSmokie]

@@ProjectDanH seems like some are using these to avoid replacing inner seals.

[@soldierboy425]

You could have just installed angled zerts. I would think that would be a better option for anyone watching.

[@ProjectDanH]

That's definitely an option! I think the bigger issue was not knowing beforehand that there would be a clearance problem. If I did know I probably would have just hit it with the grinding wheel first. Lol. Either way I hope you all can learn from my experience!

[@soldierboy425]

Update: So I just installed these in my jeep. I found a plastic tip, needle tip attachment that is just big enough to depress the ball, and inject grease into the zert.

[@ProjectDanH]

@@soldierboy425 that's awesome! Great trick

[@seandenny2412]

Your way of grinding for the grease zert worked, another guy just ground his tip of his grease gun…

[@ProjectDanH]

LoL. more than one way to skin a cat! 🤣

[@Tucson20]

Just use a 90 degree grease fittings !

[@ProjectDanH]

Easy to say now, but I couldnt get one during the install when the stores were closed! lol

[@charlespayne2002]

It's easier to use a pickle fork. Just saying