Who's replaced CV or hubs? Question...

Replaced my hubs on Saturday cuz wheel bearing was going bad.

I now have a very slight gap between the outboard CV seal and spindle seal.

When the old hub was off, I could pull on the CV stub outward so the seals were mated up perfectly. Even with the new hub loosely on it was seated up well but as soon as I tightened up the 4 hub bolts there was a slight gap (maybe a couple mm's) between the two seals. There was no gap until I tightened up the 4 bolts.

I took pics so hopefully yall can tell me if this slight gap is normal. Im pretty sure the old hubs didnt have any gap at all between those seals. I assumed tightening up the axle nut would close the gap but it only did to a certain point. I hit the axle nut with the impact to pull the CV stub through and "seat" the seal but still have a gap (of course I reloosened and torqued to spec with torque wrench).

The gap is exactly the same on both sides and completely consistent around the whole circumference of the axle. Normal?

Passenger side


Drivers side

 

nada?

 

I've got about the same gap on mine. I'm not Toyota, but I'm pretty sure this is normal. I could be totally wrong here but haven't found evidence otherwise.

I didn't notice mine until I did a spindle swap, but I did notice!

 

I'll have to go look at mine again. It's been a while since the CVs have been in there

 

Is the spindle seal fully seated?

 

Yeah the spindle seal is fully seated in the spindle. I didn't replace either seal

 

Yep I did. He did a great job pressing the bearings and he actually did include the spindle seal, but he mentioned that if replacing that seal I should also replace the outboard CV seal as well. I didnt get that seal and they seemed fine so I didnt replace either.

But i'm probably totally overthinking it, it aint broke truck drives smoother now for sure. I just thought it was totaly weird that there was no gap there before, but there is now and it didnt happen until I tightened everything up. Mated up with no gap until I tightened those bolts. Don't wont dirt and mud and shit to get in there and trash my new bearings

 

Is everything torqued down? If so I would drive and see if you hear anything weird. Sometimes it will settle and seat up from what I read in the wheel bearing thread.
Obviously you don’t want dust in there that causes early wear and tear but I think you will be okay. For a bit then recheck everything.

 

Yeah I drove it and didn't get any weird noises or anything. I'll probably recheck torque after a couple hundred miles but I doubt it'll close that gap

 

To follow up.... the CV dust seals were bent back causing that gap. Part number 90304-A0001. Replaced them and its all good

 

Any idea how they got bent?

 

Yep, in hindsight, I'm pretty sure it's from when I removed the old hubs. Axle stub was stuck in the hub, tried to use a piece of wood on it and hammer it inward but wouldnt budge. Ended up beating the hub from the back to finally get it to pop off, that pretty much drove the two seals into each other pretty hard and bent it back. Dont do that though lol I learned the hard way. When i pulled the axle to install the new seals i used a 3 jaw puller that i rented from autozone it made it soooooo easy. Should a done that the first time to avoid damaging the seal.

 

I had to pound the hell out of my PS as it was really stuck. DS came off with a couple soft whacks. I bet I screwed it up like you did & now it'll cost me $185!

 

Yep, I'm betting that's what caused yours too. Oh well, live and learn. Seriously though, rent a 3 jaw puller from autozone! Makes it so damn easy, avoid the hammering