Rear axle seal keeps going

Last monday i went over a bump and then got a clunking scrapping sound. Drove all week(after ruling out everything visable). Tonight i finally tore the brakes off the one side on the back to find my parking brake holddown exploded and parking brake parts were the lovely intermittant noise i had all week. I ALSO notice lots of oil, it appears my damn axle seal blew, i just changed it in the summer.. are these common to blow out or did the excess heat from brake scraping burn it out.. that is the question
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Rear diff took half a qt of fluid to top up to the fill hole.

Good times.

 

Installed a new seal today.. maybe i didnt get it in squarely before, anyways checked the axle bearing and that seems ok thankfully. Will drive without parking brakes now till the weather is nicer to mess with that pain in the ass.

 

If the rear axle bearings have ever been replaced, then it's possible the bearing retainer was not pressed on correctly or at the correct depth.

Or if they have never been changed, your bearing retainer may have grooves in it from normal wear.