Axle Seal Swap
- drober23
- Addicted!
- Location: Metro Detroit
- Status: Offline
Axle Seal Swap
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.
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.
DJ
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
drober23 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:07 pmHi!
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
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- asiab3
- IAC Addict!
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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
I haven’t been able to source the skinny seals recently. Drober23, let us know how thick your seals are!
Robbie
1969 bus, "Buddy."
145k miles with me.
322k miles on Earth.
145k miles with me.
322k miles on Earth.
- drober23
- Addicted!
- Location: Metro Detroit
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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
https://imgur.com/mOSK872
DJ
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Those are the wide seals. Enjoy.drober23 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 24, 2018 5:49 pmHere 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.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- wdollie6
- Addicted!
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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.
1972 Superbeetle Convertible
1972 Westy Bus
1972 Beetle
1970 Fastback
1966 6V Beetle with Sunroof
1972 Westy Bus
1972 Beetle
1970 Fastback
1966 6V Beetle with Sunroof
- asiab3
- IAC Addict!
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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
1969 bus, "Buddy."
145k miles with me.
322k miles on Earth.
145k miles with me.
322k miles on Earth.
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- drober23
- Addicted!
- Location: Metro Detroit
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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?
The seal does not want to come out. Any suggestions for advanced seal removal techniques?
DJ
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- drober23
- Addicted!
- Location: Metro Detroit
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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!
I would be scared to go in there with a dremel. Hope it doesn't come to that.
Thanks!
DJ
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
-
- Getting Hooked!
- Location: Seattle
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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.
- drober23
- Addicted!
- Location: Metro Detroit
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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.
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.
DJ
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
Good! I'm up next. I got two wide seals and two blue CV flange caps ($22.00) when I went through Yuma.drober23 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 03, 2018 6:31 pmSlide 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.
Chloe's Rancho transaxle needs them.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- drober23
- Addicted!
- Location: Metro Detroit
- Status: Offline
Re: Axle Seal Swap
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.
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.
DJ
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey