Review on Timken 710043 Seal by Sean Lafond

This is a Timken seal, what else could be questionable in this case? If you're replacing this, you've probably fiddled with the left (driver's side) axle shaft for one reason or another. My original Spicer seal, almost 30 years old, disappeared when I rebuilt the D35 IFS spindles and knuckles. The rubber portion of the seal which is fused/bonded to the tapered metal inner lip has separated from the metal causing transmission oil to leak out. Of course, this probably happened when I put the axle shaft back in earlier. Before installing a new seal, clean the mating surface with fine sandpaper, clean the inner lip, and lubricate the seal with gear oil to allow the shaft to slide in a slip fit without pulling or stretching the seal. You can use a 1/2 inch extension with a large socket that fits around the gasket installation tool handle to evenly install the gasket through the hinge. I first had to place the seal installation plate through the hole in the radius arm, then line up the extension with the bushing and feed it through the knuckle to install it. This was due to the bolts/nuts inside blocking the plate that goes through the steering knuckle.