44 replies to this topic

[Mr Thirty]

So the mini has developed a leak from gear selector oil seal.
Bought the kit from mini spares which includes alloy sleeve, with "O" ring to go around it.
1 gaitor, and 1 oil seal. Some people have said oil seal first, then alloy sleeve. Some say the opposite.
The instructions aren't any help.
Can anybody clarify this? And tips would be appreciated, I know oil must be drained, and that the old seal can be tricky to remove, but I must know which order these parts are fitted!!
One more thing, I don't have the punch for the pin, is it essential to have the right tool? Or will I be able to find something close enough?
Thanks a lot

[RedRuby]

The alloy sleeve goes in first followed by the oil seal then obviously the gaiter. You don't need to buy the special roll pin punch a suitable sized drift will suffice. As a point if you already have an oil sleeve fitted the best way I have found to remove it is to carefully drill a small hole in it, making sure you do not damage the housing and then screw a self tapping screw into the drilled hole, you can then use a pair of long nosed pliers to the pull the sleeve out.

Edited by RedRuby, 10 July 2014 - 11:36 PM.

[Mr Thirty]

Thanks for clearing that up, I can rest easy now!

[xrocketengineer]

Make sure to put gearbox in reverse in order to remove the pin. Use (wedge) a wood block between the rod and the differential case so the rod will spring back less when hitting the punch with a (large) hammer.  The oil seal comes out also with the self tapping screw.

I used a very narrow center punch to mark the drill point on the alloy sleeve, so when drilling I would not damage either the casing nor the rod. A Dremel tool with a 90 degree adapter made the drilling a lot  easier.  A shallow hole is all that is needed, enough for the screw to to engage. The sleeve's o-ring will clean out all the drilling shavings as it comes out.

 

Tip: pre-drill the shallow hole on the new alloy sleeve before installation. In the future, when replacing it, no drilling on the car needed.

[Mr Thirty]

Hey thanks for that, drilling the sleeve before it goes in sounds like good advice,
but is there a chance that I could effect the efficiency of the seal? My engineering knowledge
Is fairly limited. Cheers

[firstforward]

I did this job last year and for the life of me could not see how to replace the alloy with O ring, so I ended up just replacing the oil seal and gaitor. Some time after I was talking to DSN classics and apparently on later cars like my SPi the design is changed and the alloy and O ring are not needed.

 

Edit: Can somebody clarify this point.

Edited by firstforward, 11 July 2014 - 08:14 AM.

[RedRuby]

Not sure about that, I can only say that we have a 93 SPi and I did the oil seal last year and it has the alloy seal and an oil seal, not had to do the 98 MPi yet but see no reason why that has not got the alloy seal aswell.

[xrocketengineer]

Hey thanks for that, drilling the sleeve before it goes in sounds like good advice,
but is there a chance that I could effect the efficiency of the seal? My engineering knowledge
Is fairly limited. Cheers

All you need is a shallow hole, just deep enough for the screw to grip with its tip. That would not affect the function of the sleeve. However, if you drill all the way through, that is a whole different story. The sleeve would be ruined by not being able to hold any oil back. 

[Mr Thirty]

Cool, thanks all. Gunna hit it tomorrow morning

[ado15]

We understand that 'at some point' in the '90's, the factory changed the depth of the counterbore for the seals, so the upgrade was no longer necessary. That said, I can't for the life of me remember where that info came from!!

[Guess-Works.com]

Or in fact...

 

The support and O ring became standard fit in the 80's ( approx 1985 )

 

First as a plastic unit p/n DAM7764 and then shortly after replaced as a Aluminium unit p/n DAM8706

 

The 'leak fix' kit is only a making available of this standard part to older rod change gearboxes...

 

IMO the bellows type addition is a waste of time and rubber, as all they do is get hard and help to give gear selection issues in 2nd, 4th and reverse.

[Andrew22-10]

I recently put the new seal kit in my mini and it hasnt helped. I did notice that the insideof the casng were the alloy seal goes was abit damaged, is there any wayof removing the casing were the seals go, i am trying to avoid removing the engine if atall possible.

[jt19]

I need to replace my linkage seal also!

Will I lose my oil when I remove the old one?

[tiger99]

Yes! Unless you are very quick....

[jt19]

Ah thought so lol.
I take it theres no room for two seals!?