Changing out outer Axle seal
Hey Focus group, are any of you familiar with changing out the driver's side front axle seal, specifically on the 2006-2011 models? I pulled mine out of fear of having damaged it, but now I absolutely cannot get a new one to seat flush. I'm at my wits end and really didn't want to tow it over a $20 part. So far, I've tried a seal driver kit borrowed from Advanced Auto, but that just smashed the front bevel and destroyed it. Got a new seal and made a little jig from 2" PVC pipe, but that hasn't been able to drive it in. Ordered up a 56mm impact driver and tried that after leaving an official Ford brand seal in the freezer for a half hour to hopefully shrink it, still no go. Is there some very specific approach or tool to setting it? The lack of space to work with isn't helping, either. The second pic shows the gap that I just can't close, with a horrible angle.