I'm not disputing you, just curious - this is off the AB website:




Hub Oil Seal With ABS - Rear



Our Price: $5.95
Item: FTC5268
In Stock: Yes!
Fits:
Discovery I | '94 - '99
Range Rover Classic | '87 - '95
Defender 90 | '94 - '97
Defender 110 | '93



Where is yours from, and does it have the metal part stuck in the back?

 

I got mine from fap99.com and yeah it has metal in it and you can see the metal from the back

 

I'm sure you already checked, but it's not the seal that goes in the end of the swivel ball itself, where the axle passes through?

 

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=...thkey=CI6ayZ0G

Do you see the mystery seal anywhere in this exploded diagram?

 

arrrgghh. Right seal, wrong description on AB site.

Unfortunately, it IS the stub axle seal. I replaced it with the same that was in there, and I imagine it was wrong to begin with. That would go a long way to explaining why it was leaking so badly.

I'm going to be REALLY good at rehabbing stub axles. grrr..where's my grinder...

 

That's exactly why I study all the documentation possible before I start a repair and have it handy during as well.

I have never worked on anything remotely similar to the mechanical beasts so I want to get it clear as possible. But at least you caught it early.

 

Ha! I put it in the freezer for two hours, then quick heated the thrust ring with a butane pencil flame and it popped right off with slip joint pliers. Three cheers for neverseez.

Then I beat the seal out with a hammer and a piece of pvc pipe from the backside and the bearing popped out too, unscathed. So all in all I'm down $5 for the wrong seal, not too bad.

Driver's side is all buttoned up, and if my parts had come it would have been done. Learned a ton about the vehicle, tho.

Lol did you know that the big swivel ball seal retaining plate has a front and back? Well, I didn't, but I sure do now.