Fellows,
I replaced my real wheel bearings and seals last fall. While up on the hoist we noticed dampness arouind the wheels and I was told the seals are leaking. 3 questions...1 do the axels have to be prepped any certain way for these seals to seal and secondly would it be recommended to just buy replacement seals as opposed to new bearings collars etc and lastly. Are mazdatrix's seals made by mazda or are these after market.
Your speedy assistance is appreciated as I need to make a long road trip in the next week or so.
Regards,
Paul

 

Paul,

The rear wheel bearings are pressed onto the axles and are a PAIN to get off. Some guys cut them off, but you have to be extremely careful when you do this, otherwise you'll cut into the axles. I'd just get a new seal for each side and be done with it. No need to go replacing stuff that doesn't require it, especially if they are as difficult as those rear wheel bearings can be. If you buy the seals from Mazdatrix I'm 99.9% sure that they will send you a Mazda OEM wheel seal.

Finally, do you have drum or disc brakes in the rear? If you have drum brakes there is also the possibility that your wheel cylinders are leaking, and NOT the wheel seals. That may be brake fluid that you're seeing, not gear oil. You might want to jack it up and have another look, just to be sure. I say this because I've had to replace LOTS of OEM wheel cylinders on drum brake 7's. In fact, I think every drum brake rx7 I've ever bought had bad wheel cylinders in the back.

Good luck. Let me know if you need more help. Drive carefully!
Jamie

 

Jamie,
It does have drums on the back and I never even thought that it could be actual wheel cylinders...think I better search Mazdatrix for those at the same time. Thanks for the quick help. Keep the shinny side up and remember...for every mile of road...theirs two miles of ditches!

 

How's the brake pedal? If it's spongy then I'd say wheel cylinders are the culprit. Also, slow brake fluid loss would be another indicator.

 

Brakes are great, I just talked to the Mech. and he said it smells more like grease than Brake fluid. So now the question is the position of the seal...Do I have to replace the bearing to get the seal to fit or is the seal on the other side of the bearing?

 

You can replace the seals without messing with the bearings. I did it on mine. Just pull the whole axle shaft out, bearing and everything. Put the new axle seal into the axle housing, and then CAREFULLY slide the axles through the new seal, back into the housing. Don't nick the new seal with the splines of the axle when you are sliding it in. Easy to damage the seal when doing this, and not realize it.

 

no you don't. What you need to do to replace the wheel bearing seal is

1..go to autozone and borrow a wheel puller with sliding hammer, buy some brake parts cleaner spray
2..remove the drum brakes and drum brake wheel cylinder, four nuts behind the 12 inch round plat plate that the brake cylinder mounts too.
3..use the sliding hammer to remove the axle.
4..replace the wheel cylinder seal, pry the old one out with a flat head screw driver.
5..replace the gasket (cut your own from gasket material, or if you are super cheap, make one outta cardboard) between the axle flange and the large 12 inch round metal plate where the brake cylinder mounts.
6..then put all that stuff back together (which takes the most time)
7..bleed the brakes
usually takes 2 hours, so I plan ahead for 6 hours of day light.

 

Hey Speedracer Not
#5 what gasket? I have never heard about the gasket! does this back up against the seal?
Paul

 

I don't remember a gasket being in there either. I don't see why you would need one. That's what the wheel seal is there for. I guess you could put some silicone on it just to be safe, but I sure don't remember any gaskets.

 

well I recall a thin tan paper gasket! and I made new one out of a sheet of gasket material.

The gasket goes on the outside, goes inbetween the axle housing flange, and the large circular round thing that the brake cylinder mounts on, has a ~2 inch hole in the center, and 4 holes for the bolt studs

The seal with the spring in it fits around the axle bearing.