the only reason i can think of not adding any material is that my 10 spline bearings are always nice and lubed and fresh, whereas 24 spline always look dry and the nuts are rusty!
If these were regularly splashed with axle oil then they wouldn't look like this.
I much prefer the 10 spline setup, plenty of lube and a longer stub axle, so less effort on the bearings as far as I can see because they are spaced further apart...
I love a post that comes full circle!! The conclusion of all of this now seems to be that I don't add any material and leave as is because that provides better lubrication for the bearings in the hub!
Given that I can add material later and can live with a leak if it happens until I get round to sorting it I'm going to leave them as they are and see what happens. Seems as if I may have come across a perfect compromise purely by chance!!
The 10 spline axle of course has an outer seal which stops most of the oil getting through, whereas a 24 spline axle only has the inner seal cos it's supposed to run the shaft seal. Outer seal doesn't work so good though so I always get a but of extra lube in the bearings.
I use FRC8221 fitted flush to edge for the inner seal in my 10spline hubs, it has a garter spring.
I use FRC8222 fitted to depth 4mm as the outer seal, it also has a garter spring.
I have messed about with various seals, not knowing which is which etc and stumbled across these somehow. they seem to last the longest and do the best job. god knows if they are the correct fitment!
usually 110 iirc rrc and 90/disco used rtc3511 but if they fit perfect i used to build up quite few maxi drive diffs for a company rtc3511 was used with the kits as they came with h/d half shafts and h/d drive members which were better with oil between splines ,which you dont get with later stub axle sealed axles as can be seen in the wear and rust colour in later drive members especially td5 def , i think youd make a good reconditioner /special builds mr noisy i presume he needs ftc3186 and ftc3187 if 10 spline axle ,ftc4785 is grease seal ,they presumed with outer seal frc8222 would keep oil from bearings
Yes it's true 8222 is supposed to keep oil out of bearings, combined with the seal/spacer part. The setup doesn't work very well though, it lets a little through.
Works well though for me with grease packed hubs and oil seals, very reliable off road, no water ingress anymore.