Just need to address one leaky axle seal, and one leaky rear brake piston. I'm doing both, for both 'cus the problem items were on opposite wheels anyway.
I somehow got it in my head (after the fact) that you couldn't change the brake-shoes without pulling the axles which is bananas. If you look at the photos you can see the rotor is clearly small enough to give ample access to changing out the pads. With the axle/stud rotor removed and out of sight I was thinking it was much larger...
I'll have the van registered and on the road this upcoming week.
Misc unsorted photos below.
This brake cylinder is OK.
...but the axle seal is leaking... The opposite is true on the other side of the van.
It's obvious when you look for it, but the whole back of the brake plate and axle are wet (not a dry dirt covering) from leaks/seep. There're no actual drips, so I think my mechanic was being a little too thorough 'cus I'd covered absolutely everything else, but they are technically leaking.
The diff' needs to be cracked open so the axles can be split/removed. Splitting the axles was surprisingly easy. I was sure there'd be pressed or jammed release pins I'd have to deal with, and assumed I'd have to make yet another tool.
New brake piston assembly installed.
New axle seal ready to install. I'm picking up a 2nd one after this weekend as the supplier only had one in stock on the day. ( bearingwholesalers.com.au have gotten me out of a bind with Ford replacement parts several times on the Transit so far )
