Rear axle seal leak: Bearing replacement needed due to gear oil contamination?

Good morning, I had a rear axle seal go out so I replaced both axle seals, left and right. I also had to replace brake shoes due to gear oil contamination. The question I have is that for gear oil to get to the brake shoes does the gear oil pass thru the rear wheel bearing? If gear oil passes thru the bearing does that bearing need replaced?

Thanks!

 

Yes

 

Yes on all accounts? Bearing needs replaced?

Thanks!

 

Yes

 

Basically even if you degrease everything it’s still too late, the bearing is full of oil and will sling oil on all your new brake parts.


You can do it, but if the axle is out just get the bearing replaced.

 

Sounds good. Thanks!

 

I’m a hack.
And I do things I shouldn’t do sometimes.

My axle seal leaked back in 2017 with about 90k miles on my on my truck.
I am at 167k now. I did not replace my bearing. I even kept my old shoes.
Soaked them down with carb cleaner and let them soak while doing rear seal.
Just replaced my shoes this year at 160k. Still on the same rear bearing….

That said, don’t be like me.
If you can afford to have the bearing replaced, replace it.
I was in a pinch, I had 1 day to fix the leak. And no way to press on/off bearings.
I tossed a seal in it and “got lucky”.