‘47 Cadillac Fleetwood Front Wheel Questions

[isuras2]

What type of gasket/seal goes between the front brake backing plate and spindle?
Also, is the "grease retainer" the same as a wheel seal?

[toybox]

  Hello, I just did my kingpins on my series 1946 61 and did not see any kind of seal or sealer . It was just a very tight machine fit.   Tim

[isuras2]

Thanks.  I'll just put it back with no seal.

[Roger Zimmermann]

According to the parts list, there is one: 1941-56, #1437917, gasket, front brake backing plate to steering knuckle.

[Daryl Chesterman]

Also, is the "grease retainer" the same as a wheel seal?

I would say yes, they are the same thing.  The grease retainer or wheel seal goes into the brake drum hub and does just what the names say, retains the grease inside the hub and seals out dust and debris from the bearings.  NAPA shows the front seal as being an SKF 19940, which looks quite a bit different from what you show in your second picture, unless the metal portion of the seal is still in the hub?

     https://www.amazon.com/SKF-19940-Grease-Seals/dp/B000EPR5O0

If you have the seal part number from your Master Parts List (MPL), you can take that number to your local parts jobber or bearing dealer, and have them interchange it for the correct replacement seal.

Daryl Chesterman

[isuras2]

According to the parts list, there is one: 1941-56, #1437917, gasket, front brake backing plate to steering knuckle.

Where do I find a parts list?

[Roger Zimmermann]

Search on eBay. Some are originals (costly), some are reprints. Faxon auto literature has that: https://www.faxonautoliterature.com/1941-1947-Cadillac-Parts-Book-Reprint-2-Volume-Set
By the way, the part number I gave is for the thin paper gasket like seen on your picture. The grease seal is something different, it's installed into the hub.