1952 pinion seal

[Rdtreur]

Do I got the yoke out and want to order the pinion seal. It measures little less than 1.875 on the yoke and 3,75 inch on the axle housing.
Can someone verify that skf 18948 is the right one? Caddy daddy is giving other dimensions for the seal for this axle...?

[Omarine]

Hello Ramon,

I found this which seems to match your measurements:


https://www.motionindustries.com/productDetail.jsp?sku=01300956

I have the same leak, so I may be doing the same...

[Omarine]

Ramon, do you know if you have the cup type plug on the yoke end of the carrier?

that's what seems to be the difference - see links..


https://www.caddydaddy.com/shop-parts/1941-1942-1946-1947-1948-1949-1950-1951-1952-cadillac-see-details-pinion-oil-seal-2-3-4-inches-od-reproduction-free-shipping-in-the-usa.html


https://www.caddydaddy.com/shop-parts/1946-1947-1948-1949-1950-1951-1952-1953-1954-1955-1956-1957-1958-1959-1960-cadillac-see-details-pinion-oil-seal-3-3-4-inches-od-reproduction-free-shipping-in-the-usa.html

[Rdtreur]

The one from motion industries is the same as the skf that I found. The two that caddydaddy offers are not the right dimensions for my axle. And to be honest I don’t really know what the mean with the “cup style”...

I just ordered the skf seal and hope is is correct but I think it is according to the dimensions.
Thanks for your input:-)

Ramon, do you know if you have the cup type plug on the yoke end of the carrier?

that's what seems to be the difference - see links..


https://www.caddydaddy.com/shop-parts/1941-1942-1946-1947-1948-1949-1950-1951-1952-cadillac-see-details-pinion-oil-seal-2-3-4-inches-od-reproduction-free-shipping-in-the-usa.html


https://www.caddydaddy.com/shop-parts/1946-1947-1948-1949-1950-1951-1952-1953-1954-1955-1956-1957-1958-1959-1960-cadillac-see-details-pinion-oil-seal-3-3-4-inches-od-reproduction-free-shipping-in-the-usa.html

[Omarine]

Ramon, the cup style description came right out of the notes on the caddy daddy page - I am not sure either.  I plan to fix my leak as well so Im curious. 

what did you use to get the old seal out?

[Rdtreur]

Ramon, the cup style description came right out of the notes on the caddy daddy page - I am not sure either.  I plan to fix my leak as well so Im curious. 

what did you use to get the old seal out?

It’s still in the housing. I did get the yoke off with a impact wrench and counted the turns before it came off. I wait to get the new seal before I take the old one out. I guess I’m have to work really hard to get the old rusty one out😔

[Omarine]

i think these seals might come out the same way Harley mainshaft seals come out.  drill two holes opposite one another and screw in some sheet metal screws.  then use a puller from the screws to pull it out uniformly, but Im not sure if the same approach is used here. 

[Bob Schuman]

Ramon,
The  SKF seal #18948 is correct for your differential. Other numbers are National #456053N, Chicago Rawhide 18948, Delco #298-544, and Cadillac 1458709. Dimensions are 3.745" OD, 1.875" shaft, 1/2" wide, for the 1952-1956 "no cup" differential. Some of those numbers may be obsolete, but NAPA and other vendors may be able to come up with a usable cross-reference.
Looking at the lower right area of your photo, there is a U shaped protrusion on the casting that has a flat rough cast appearance. The cup type differential has a small metal cup there, similar to a very small engine freeze plug. That was the 1937-51 differential, and uses a smaller OD seal that fits within a metal retainer. Be thankful yours is not that type, because the metal retainer is not available, and removal can easily damage the old one. On your design, just yank or pry out the old seal, smooth any burrs that may be where the seal fits, and tap the new one into place. Use a little sealer on the threads of the pinion nut to assure no leakage.
Since the 1941 through 1955 differentials are all interchangeable( depending on gear ratio desired) any Cadillac of those years may have a replacement differential not identical to the original, so that is why knowing whether one has a cup type or no cup unit is important.

[Jay Friedman]

.....Since the 1941 through 1955 differentials are all interchangeable( depending on gear ratio desired) any Cadillac of those years may have a replacement differential not identical to the original, so that is why knowing whether one has a cup type or no cup unit is important.

Bob, it's been my impression that some were the cup type and some the other without any particular pattern and unrelated to model year.  I may be wrong of course (and not for the first time).

When I needed a replacement on m '49 many years ago, I ordered one of each type from the late, lamented Olcar Bearing Co.  A friend and I installed the correct one (I forget which) and I returned the un-needed one for a refund.  I don't know if current vendors would agree to that.   

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Bob & others,
I have a C/R  18922. Is it correct?  I also have a set of NOS  Timken  pinion bearings, front & rear.
Bob

[Rdtreur]

Thanks for all the info guys, really helpful :-). I ordered the skf seal from rockauto, shipped yo the Netherlands for only $29,- in total, so I won’t be getting a refund. But I think I got the correct one ordered:-) thanks again

[Bob Schuman]

Bob, Your #18922 seal does not fit the Cadillac differential, it is a nominal 3-1/4" OD x 1.875" shaft size, the 18948 seal for the late differentials is 3-3/4" OD. I do not know what the 18922 fits.

Jay, You may be right about what differentials were used when. My 51 Cadillac built in early 1951, has the non-cup differential that the MPB says was for 1952-56 cars. From my knowledge of my car, I think it has its original differential, but I have no way to be sure of that. There is no end to the things that we car nuts can find to worry about, especially now with plenty of time on our hands.

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Folks,

I did an article in the Self Starter on this issue in April 2019. It had lots of pictures and recommendations.

If anyone is interested and does not have access to the April 2019 SS let me know and I can send a copy.

John W

[Davidcamper]

Has anyone heard from John Washburn? I have the March 2019 issue and this article isn't in it. Does anyone know which issue this was? I really need it as I'm about to replace this seal.

Thnx
David

[Davidcamper]

I meant April 2019

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Sadly, John Washburn passed away.

Bruce.  

[Davidcamper]

Oh no. I had not heard that. Such a great guy.

[Roger Zimmermann]

It's February 2019 issue. I have to reread it because I still don't understand the term "with cup" and "without cup"...

[Davidcamper]

Great. Thank you very much. I plan on attempting this replacement.

[Davidcamper]

Below is a picture of the cup (freeze plug) style differential. Notice the small hole, it holds a small freeze plug. That's what they mean by cup. Some   Caddy rear ends do not have these.