Hi everyone I have 53 sedan, I have been in the works replacing my rear leaf springs, rear shocks. I have installed de-arched leaf springs. Mind you the car has sat on jack stands for two weeks already. When installing the leaf springs, we noticed a leak both sides of the brake drum. So I orders wheel cylinders. When parts finally arrived I removed the brake drum and noticed it’s been leaking gear oil. It was leaking from the picture I uploaded, the hole marked in red. Before taking the photo, the hole was at 6 o’clock. My question is, do I need the a plug for this hole? Do my drums need to line up to this hole?
There should be a hole in the drum that lines up with that hole. It's the weep hole, for when the wheel seal seeps a little oil out. If it's leaving a puddle like that, you need to change the seal. Plugging the hole will just make the oil get on the brake shoes, which you do NOT want.
I've never in my 73 years heard of a "weep" hole in a Chevy axle like that. I have seen a lot of early Chevy axle seals leak which means you have to pull the cover on the rear axle, take the pin out of the spiders, push the axles in to drop the C clips out, pull the axles out and pull the seals out and put new seals in, check the axles for damage and put it back together. I'd look a bit at the wheel bearings to make sure they were good.
I always thought the hole in the axle was to get to the backing plate bolts. Sent from my SM-G973U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
If he has a stock reared he probably will not have C clips. Unbolt axle flanges, slide hammer pull axle out, press off bearing or check o ring, r and r. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
If it has the stock rear axle, and it has a removable cover, remove the cover, and then remove the bolt, pin and C clips, then remove the axles.
If you're lucky enough to find NOS or NORS leather seals, be sure to soak them in neatsfoot oil overnight before use.
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