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Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:07 pm
by drober23
Hi!
Last summer, I noticed a leak from the seal between the transaxle and the CV joint on the passenger side. I made a note to top off the gear oil and rolled it the rest of the summer.
Now it is time to take care of it. I ordered the seals from Weddle Enterprises. These threads of people finding filings and chunks when they drain their transaxles has me only a little concerned.
I'll put up some pictures when I have it apart, and may have a few questions before I am done.
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:05 am
by Amskeptic
drober23 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:07 pm
Hi!
Last summer, I noticed a leak from the seal between the transaxle and the CV joint on the passenger side. I made a note to top off the gear oil and rolled it the rest of the summer.
Now it is time to take care of it. I ordered the seals from Weddle Enterprises. These threads of people finding filings and chunks when they drain their transaxles has me only a little concerned.
I'll put up some pictures when I have it apart, and may have a few questions before I am done.
Are you getting the wide seals or the usual skinny seals? I did wide on Chloe's original transaxle, and never had a leak again.
Got a new rebuild from Rancho, and it leaked within 10,000 miles. NaranjaWesty 76,343 is dry, BobD 110,770 is dry.
Phooey,
Colin
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 11:33 pm
by asiab3
Shoot, your Rancho 002 rebuild was leaking too? I guess I’ll stop at the buggy shop in Yuma AGAIN after your past recommendation. Those deep seals kept my old transaxle dry!
I haven’t been able to source the skinny seals recently. Drober23, let us know how thick your seals are!
Robbie
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 5:49 pm
by drober23
Here are the seals I bought from Weddle. The big seal is about 5/8" thick. Not sure if that makes it skinny or not. I know I put almost 50,000 miles on this transaxle, almost all of those with no leaks. No idea of its history before I got it years ago though.
https://imgur.com/mOSK872
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:40 pm
by Amskeptic
drober23 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 24, 2018 5:49 pm
Here are the seals I bought from Weddle. The big seal is about 5/8" thick. Not sure if that makes it skinny or not. I know I put almost 50,000 miles on this transaxle, almost all of those with no leaks. No idea of its history before I got it years ago though.
Those are the wide seals. Enjoy.
Colin
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 11:48 am
by wdollie6
Replaced mine two years ago and with minimal mileage have a leak... Can this be done while on the vehicle, hate to pull it for that. I even followed the "procedure". Did note that that the plastic dust cap was torn.
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Sat May 26, 2018 9:18 am
by asiab3
wdollie6 wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 11:48 am
Can this be done while on the vehicle, hate to pull it for that.
Absolutely! Make sure your installation of seals and caps is square and true; no funny angle business. Though unnecessary to seal, I found a light coating of Shellac or Permatex Aviation on the outside of the seal helped the Xtra Deep seal slide in all the way. Lubricate the inner sealing lip with oil to prevent excess friction on first drive.
Would packing these seals with grease be beneficial like crankshaft and wheel bearing seals?
Robbie
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Wed May 30, 2018 7:32 am
by Amskeptic
asiab3 wrote: ↑Sat May 26, 2018 9:18 am
Would packing these seals with grease be beneficial like crankshaft and wheel bearing seals?
Robbie
No pack. A light smear of grease on the CV flange seal surfaces is fine.
a) transaxle oil is halfway to grease, so transaxle oil will be a fine "break-in" sauce.
b) the transaxle's gears and bearings would love a little molybdenum-fortified grease, but:
c) the synchronizers would not,
(that molybdenum disulfide makes the synchronizers too slippery)
Colin
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Thu May 31, 2018 3:16 pm
by drober23
I have the CV off, and the old seal exposed. I tried the suggested "pry with 2 large screwdrivers" technique. No luck.
The seal does not want to come out. Any suggestions for advanced seal removal techniques?
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 12:49 am
by Amskeptic
drober23 wrote: ↑Thu May 31, 2018 3:16 pm
I have the CV off, and the old seal exposed. I tried the suggested "pry with 2 large screwdrivers" technique. No luck.
The seal does not want to come out. Any suggestions for advanced seal removal techniques?
Drill two 1/4" holes 180* apart through the side of the seal, install 5/16" self tapping screws and slide hammer/pry it out with firmly locked visegrips.
Dremel the seal with a laser razor accurate cut only to the wall of the seal, use visegrips to peel the wall of the seal inwards.
Persevere, my boy, but do NOT nick the transaxle seal bore in any way.
Colin
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 3:44 am
by drober23
Ooh, didn't think of the self tapping screw idea. That might be a place to start.
I would be scared to go in there with a dremel. Hope it doesn't come to that.
Thanks!
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 10:16 pm
by kreemoweet
drober23 wrote: ↑Thu May 31, 2018 3:16 pm
Any suggestions for advanced seal removal techniques?
I've never been able to pry those seals out, even with my heavy-duty made-for-purpose seal puller tool, which just tears thru the seal
metal without budging it. Those things are just too damned tight. What I usually end up using is my Knipex diagonal cutters to nip and
pull, nibble and twist, nip and pull on the seal, taking off little chunks until it gives up it's grip. It can be a bit tedious, but there's little chance of damaging the seal bore or anything else.
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 6:31 pm
by drober23
Slide hammer for the win! Thanks for the suggestion.
The local FLAPS lets you "rent" one bu purchasing it, then refunding the money when you return it. It took some thought to get the flange to grab two screws where I was able to get the slide hammer in place, but after some fussing it came out.
It was a wide seal, so this job had been done before.
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2018 8:48 am
by Amskeptic
drober23 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 03, 2018 6:31 pm
Slide hammer for the win! Thanks for the suggestion.
The local FLAPS lets you "rent" one bu purchasing it, then refunding the money when you return it. It took some thought to get the flange to grab two screws where I was able to get the slide hammer in place, but after some fussing it came out.
It was a wide seal, so this job had been done before.
Good! I'm up next. I got two wide seals and two blue CV flange caps ($22.00) when I went through Yuma.
Chloe's Rancho transaxle needs them.
Colin
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 2:22 pm
by drober23
Just to bring some completion to this.
The seal is in, and does not appear to leak about 100 miles in.
I am getting what sounds like the beginning of a throwout bearing starting to go now that I am driving the bus again though. Just a little growl the first time or two I engage the clutch to start from rest when its cold.