Topic: knuckle/hub seal ?

[shooter]

Hey all,
I'm in the middle of my front axle rebuild and Ifs rotor swap and have a few questions. First of all is it normal for the big hub seal,(the one that bolts to the knucke and rides the outside of the hub), to cause super heavy drag on the hub? Im talking 22+ lbs. It is a new seal, from the marlin knuckle rebuild kit. I torqued the hub nut in like the fsm said and backed it off to take my initial measurement and but there is just an unbeliveable amount of drag.  Is this normal?
 After looking at the whole picture a this seal seems redundant to me. Also it looks like it could be prone to trap in water. Im wondering if it is even necessary at all.  Have any of you run without the seal. It sure would make setting the bearing preload easier. I dont think any other manufacurer does it this way.

[FIREBALL]

I'm not positive about what your explaining, but I do know that on some ifs rotor swaps the outer edge of metal on that dust seal will drag on the inside edge of the rotor. If that is where it is draging you can grind off that lip and still retain your dust seal.

[shooter [OP]]

the drag is caused tension of the rubber seal on the hub body. I mean i could barley slip the seal over the hub when i did a test fit. I had to use the hub nut to draw the hub/rotor assembly all the way down on the spindle. it wouldent just slide right on.

[Hyena]

Are you talking about the seal for the inner bearing?  I am confused.

[shooter [OP]]

the seal that is bolted to the spinde on top of the backing plate. "Dust seal" may be the proper term. the pair of seals on the upper left. not the "Grease seals" on middle right

[guywithuglyyota]

I had this same problem, I just greased it up real good and it all checked out fine. I know the crappy thing is its hard to tell if your bearing pre-load is too much, or if its the seal. I will check my factory service manual tonight after work. I cannot remember the torque on the seal retianing plates, that may have something to do with it if your over tightening.

[shooter [OP]]

torqued to spec....38ftlb

[shooter [OP]]

well i went to the dealer on bought the factory dust seals. big time difference way less drag than the ones that came in the kit.    I got the hub and rotor on and everything is adjusted now and feels good. The only bad part was the price...$25 each   

[FIREBALL]

wow, never had that prob before. i wonder if their distributer gave them a samuri seal or sumthin.