Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Where is this SEAL available or is it a packing type seal?

Are you speaking of the pinion bearing seal?

No...it's the rear drive shaft spicer joint. How to keep the grease inside?

OK. Each cup's needle bearings are sealed with a little cork seal. For 1934 Packard said to oil, not grease the joints as grease gun pressure could damage the seals,and I suspect that was also their recommendation for 1933. At other times Packard said to use grease but from a hand grease gun at gentle pressure. At this point if your seals are kaput it's probably best to replace the joint, Kanter has them.

The concept using gear oil in the universal joint was that the hollow little reservoir in the center of the joint held excess oil that centrifugal force would supply as needed. Grease doesn't have the mobility to do that. Packard used the same thought process for the king pins, heavy oil was recommended and not grease. The oil could gradually and continuously work it's way down from the top to the bottom, giving a kind of constant lubrication whereas if grease were used but with time congealed, it blocked the passage and there was no way to lubricate the bottom bearing unless you took the entire assembly apart and cleaned it.

Tis indeed a shame that more prior owners (and today's owners as well, sometimes) don't take the time to read the lubrication requirements.