Inspecting the axle housing after removing the inner axle seals, I noticed a groove passed one of the axle seals. Assuming that the axle seals have been removed before with a bit more force. I used a 1 x 3 piece of wood starting from the center section. Once I got out one of the seals, I used a pvc pipe the length of the housing to get to next axle seal out. Do I need to worry about the groove? Also, I ordered axle seals from Dr. Diff. Do they get installed dry? Currently have wd-40 to keep the housing from rusting.
I suppose a thin layer of gasket sealant to fill up the scratches won't hurt. You need to put grease over the retaining seal spring before install so that the springs won't pop off when you tap the new seal in place.
Are you using the factory style bearings or the "green" bearings?
I ordered the Tapered Timken Bearings from Dr. Diff for street use. The invoice shows the manufacturer (USA/Canada).