What are Backing Plate Gaskets?
When you remove the wheel hubs from a solid rear axle, you’ll find backing plate gaskets between the hubs and the axle. There’s one backing plate gasket per side. It’s a good idea to replace these gaskets whenever you service or replace your vehicle’s rear wheel bearings. If you own a 4x4 with solid axles mounted front and rear, you likely have four backing plate gaskets rather than the standard two found on rear-wheel drive vehicles.