20 replies to this topic

[IainStallard]

Since London to Brighton, I've now noticed that the slow oil leak that was once weeping from under the car has now become a rather large and alarming oil leak which I have traced to the drivers side pot joint seal, and the gear selector seal. How hard is this to replace and how would I go about replacing these seals?

Cheers in advance guys

[MrElliott]

I tried to do my gear selector seal a while ago but gave up as I couldn't get the pin out of the selector shaft. I've herd its an easy job for a person of average intelligence so give it a go :) I think I could have been helped by using the minispares tool... http://www.minispare...rch/classic/pin tool.aspx|Back to search

 

there is a good step by step guide on here with loads of pics too

[MrElliott]

http://www.theminifo...or +shaft +seal

[IainStallard]

I tried to do my gear selector seal a while ago but gave up as I couldn't get the pin out of the selector shaft. I've herd its an easy job for a person of average intelligence so give it a go :) I think I could have been helped by using the minispares tool... http://www.minispare...rch/classic/pin tool.aspx|Back to search
 
there is a good step by step guide on here with loads of pics too

Cheers :) fortunately, that's the small leak which isn't too bad. The main scary leak is the pot joint/diff drive shaft joint seal any idea how to replace that?

[lawrie124]

did mine on the race car a few weeks ago at the track. Rolled the car onto it's side, with a few tyres under the side and some planks of wood for extra safety propping the side up, then it's a case of popping the hub and getting the driveshaft out of the pot joint, undoing the diff side casing bolts (not easy to get at them all), tap out the pot joint (before undoing the casing bolts, actually, changing the seal then reverse fitting. And as the car is on it's side, we didn't have to empty the engine oil but you get some fuel leaking out of the carb.

 

PLEASE DONT TRY THIS AT HOME.

 

Not sure what the 'official' way of doing it is; probably drain the oil, jack up the front end, then as above?

 

Mike

[IainStallard]

Do you have to undo the diff side casing to replace the seal? It's due an oil change soon so I will probably do it then

[Zara]

Did mine while i had the engine out a few weeks back, i also replaced the metal bushes in the drive flanges on the side and now leaks no more

[Captain Mainwaring]

Do you have to undo the diff side casing to replace the seal? It's due an oil change soon so I will probably do it then

 

No, put you do need the sump empty.

[tiger99]

You can in theory do it without removing the diff side cover, but it might be a bit fiddly. If the diff side cover has to be removed, you really ought to re-shim the diff, as the new gasket may not be exactly the same thickness as the original, and affect the bearing preload, although if you don't, it may be ok for a long while (or you will very shortly need to strip it and fit new bearings).

 

You may as well change both drive shaft seals while you are at it, as if one has gone, the other will not be far behind, and it is such a lot of aggro that it is best done only once, in my opinion.

 

I would advise getting the car as high as possible to make working under there less unpleasant. It is no fun with it just on axle stands, lying on your back. Much nicer with a pit.

[IainStallard]

I shall continue to keep an eye on it and when the oil next needs changing, will replace the seals then. Cheers guys :)

[IainStallard]

Starting the dreaded pot joint seal tonight along with all 4 ball joints! Wish me luck!

[Camel]

I did mine a few weeks ago. Prise the pot joints out making sure not to bend the diff cover(use the bolt heads as the leverage point) and then you should be able to prise out the oil seals with a screw driver. Mine came out quite easily and the new ones went in just as easy.

 

Changing the seals took no longer than a minute or so.

[IainStallard]

Well I have the minispares tool so that should be ok. Doing oil seal tomorrow as the ball joints were a pig, didn't have enough shims >.<

 

Did you take the diff cover off on yours or not?

[Cooperman]

You might want to check to see how much play there is in the diff output shaft support bushes as excess play could be why the seal has failed. If there is excessive play you need new bushes which need to be machined to suit the inner end of the pot joint.

[Camel]

Well I have the minispares tool so that should be ok. Doing oil seal tomorrow as the ball joints were a pig, didn't have enough shims >.<

 

Did you take the diff cover off on yours or not?

Nope, didn't need to.