axle seal leaking. any ideas??

[villageidiot]

I changed both drive axles about 3 weeks ago. Took the car in to get a steam clean. Guy said my axle seals were leaking. Changed both axle seals on Sunday as indeed they were leaking. Took the car home and noticed some fluid on the ground. Got under it today, and indeed the axle seal is leaking again. So I changed it again. Just got home and the dang thing is leaking again.

I checked the inside where the seal goes and its not knicked, I didn't notice a crack in the case or anything of the sort, and the seals have all fit properly on the axle shaft.

Any ideas??

I haven't had to use any excessive force to get the axles in or out. But I did notice that there is a small amount of end play at the inner cv hub where it goes into the trans. (Less than 3/16 inch)

Its a 91 auto

[FestYboy]

that's alot of play for inner CVs.

[ejp2fast]

my axle shaft seals still leak after changing the twice... and i have another set ready to install... same situation, no knicks in the trans case bore, seems to fit fine.

[crazyrog17]

You're supposed to use new circlips every time you pull your CV Shafts.

Possibly the cause for so much play?

[villageidiot]

I used the circlips that came on the new axles. Its irritating.

[WmWatt]

What make of axles? New or rebuild? If rebuilt they may have "chased" the grooves agressively?

[Safety Guy]

Hmmm...

I installed a new right side CV axle on Aqua, and reused her original left side axle. Right side is fine, but I get an occasional leaking from the left side transaxle seal, after some "higher speed" runs. Seems to be fine for most "average speed" driving though. The seal did look a bit crooked and I'll probably be putting in a new seal when I redo the front end in a month or so (putting in slightly shorter springs, auto brake rotors and nicer calipers and pads, etc.).

I suppose it could be my reused circlip on the left side. Maybe I should pick up a new one along with a new axle seal.

Karl

[stdsmt22]

make sure you are getting the right parts. also, you have to really make sure they are seated all the way in. just replaced mine and no more leak.

[villageidiot]

they are definately seated all the way, ive come to the conclusion that the bearings in the differential area of the trans have some play in them, and after running it in the air, and looking at how the axle moves, there is play up and down, and it is allowing the seals to weep.

i'll have to live with it, til i can find a core trans to have rebuilt.

[Festiva Time]

Mine leaked. It was because Gear Oil was used to the Manual Transaxle. It is suppose to be Mercon ATF Fluid. Corrected it. Never leaked again.

[walth]

interesting thread...sub'd

any other thoughts on this? mine leaks a touch after replacing them months ago but...it leaks oil and coolant as well so it's just an ongoing battle. lol

my yellow auto leaks ATF as well...

[zoe60]

I'd like to figure it out too. I replaced my axles when I first got the car (4 years) and they have leaked ever since. When I put my B6 in I installed a different transmission with way lower miles and it is in great shape but the driver side seal still leaks. It's not that bad of a leak but it bothers me. If I check the fluid level after a year it isn't very low at all. Maybe 1/4". I even returned the axle and got a replacement one time and it still leaked. I've replaced the seal about 4 times. No luck. Really weird.

[mgg1]

I went through the same CV shaft seal leaking issue too, very aggravating.

To fix the leaking issue try installing the seals not all the way pressed in the housings and only flush with the outer edge of the housing and use double springs on the seal lip.

I pulled the engine from my Aspire 6 months ago and installed a new clutch disk, new CV axle seals and brand new, not rebuilt axles.The new axle seal leaked really badly on the left side that I got from Rock Auto.So I put in a National seal and it leaked really bad.Put in a Napa seal and it too leaked bad.So I put in the original 140000 mile seal and it barley leaked.

I got and tried a rebuilt CV shaft which was 1 thousands smaller in diameter than the new shaft and it leaked badly too with another new NAPA seal.

Went to Ford and parts are no longer carried for the 97 Aspire.Went to Mazda as it is a Mazda transaxle and engine and they ordered me some that matched the Aspires size but it is different.I put in a new Mazda seal and it too leaked really bad too.

So I pulled it back out and took the spring from another seal and placed it beside the one in the seal lip for double springs.

Also I did not press the seal all the way in, just flush on the outside of the transaxle and put things back together,and no leak.

Possibly the seal lip was riding on the very end of the axle and not fully sealed causing the leak.

So I dropped the exhaust pipe to remove the passenger side axle to replace the seal on that side.I put a 2nd spring on the inner seal lip and also installed the seal flush on the outside of the transaxle housing and put in 2.5 qts of Mobil 75/90 synthetic gear lube.

Ran it and no aggravating leaks,yippee!!Shot 6 cans of either to degrease the area and blew things dry and still no drips after several days and many miles of running.

[walth]

To fix the leaking issue try installing the seals not all the way pressed in the housings and only flush with the outer edge of the housing and use double springs on the seal lip.

you got it. I don't think mine was leaking. it's bone dry on the outside now so now I just have to help out the oil leak(s) but I'm not driving anything much right now and if I am it's the motorcycle.

[Pgh5spd]

I've used National / Federal Mogul 2007N's for the last many years because since they had to order them and they were only $5 then, I got a six-pack. Except for once not seating one properly, they've never leaked on me.