Cleaning a wheel end seal MESS!

So I was on a thread started by catmech2 and got to wanting to ask this but didn't want to steal his thread.

What ways do you guys use to clean up the spindle, hub, drum, shoes, hardware etc...when a wheel end seal goes out and covers the world in the nasty cooked oil? I think most of our time spent changing the bad seal is spent cleaning up the mess it has made. Have gone through countless cans of brake cleaner...lol.

Normally start by scraping the old stuff off. I let my bearings and misc hardware soak in diesel while I work. That way they are clean when I pull them out and can easily inspect them. I use a large folgers coffee can. It will hold it all. Once I pull it out of the diesel I lay it on clean paper towels or rags to inspect. Once all is done I'll start reoiling and putting back togheter. I have used B52, brake cleaner, diesel to clean the spindle, shoes, drum and such....anything I use makes a mess...and you never really get it all off. You end up spending so much on cleaners and such. Have you guys found any tricks or tips on getting it all clean for remounting? I know alot of it will burn off once the seal is fixed. But there HAS to be a better way. I could probably psi wash it the best I can before bringing it in...but you do not have that luxury most of the time. Then when you are hurried...you have water to deal with then.

Just wondering what you guys do or have done in the past...what worked well...what didn't.

 

yeah wish we had a steam cleaner. Psi washer is nice...but without the heat the water hangs out for a while..then its in the shop all day.

Seems like everyone is in the same boat...its a messy job...but somebodies gotta do it. lol. I have used compressed air. If your careful with aiming it works well. But one bad spray and your covered, or the truck is covered, or the floor is covered instead of keeping it localized. But it keeps from having the oil slick under the spindle. You know the one?.?.?...lol. Thats is made of grease, hub oil, etc...then cut with brake cleaners...whick allow the oil slick to expand...then a hand steps in it...spreads it just a little...so you slip on it. lol. I carefully use oil dry under them...but its so dusty...I really try to keep from it as long as the hub is naked. Try to wait till I put the tire back on and everything is covered back up to put the oil dry down.

 

Heavyd...do you have a steam psi washer or are you doing something else? We do not have the excess funds now for a steam cleaner. Been trying to figure out a way to do something else. Yeah normally toss the shoes...thats hard when you can see so much more wear left in them. Hoping to get a parts washer when I'm full time at the shop. For now i'm using my folgers can...gives me a good excuse to keep drinking my coffee..lol.

What chemical do you using in your parts cleaner?? I ask because I have used part cleaner in the past and some do not do the job of others. Chemtool is the best I've seen...but dang its high!

 

Really not trying to avoid the mess...its inevitable. Just picking your brains on what you do so I can save the shop some money on brake cleaner. I like things to be clean when I work...so I go through alot of stuff. The old mech would dive into messes and put the mess back together. I just can't do that. You can't tell me that when thats done you don't get some crude into what you just fixed. That drove me nuts when I used to work with him. Being that we are running poles and have loaders on nearly all our trucks its hard to keep everything clean when working...but I try my best. Seems repairs always go better when the equipment is clean.