13
14
Look at that nice, tight fit. Repeat removal and replacement on
the other side.
15
The new bearing and seal are ready to be installed. With the
seal driver over the seal and bearing, use a hammer and press to
drive the bearing squarely onto its seat. Some people use blocks
of wood for this step, but as DaSilva Racing’s Rob Cohelo says,
that wood can damage the seals and bearings, so it’s worth
using a proper seal driver. Auto parts stores may have a kit you
can rent.
It’s important to inspect the axles. If the old bearings were badly
corroded, it’s likely that the axles are also damaged and pitted. If
the pitting is extensive, your only choice is to replace the axles.
In our case, they weren’t too bad and just required cleaning.
Factory Fox axles are 28-spline units, though cars modified for
street/strip use often use heavier-duty 31-spline replacements.
Issue 9 FOX Mustang Magazine 61