Chronic rear axle seal leak

Tom Blankinship posted:

Since I changed over to wide fives, I’ve had a chronic rear axle seal leak on the left side.  The seal has been replaced 3 times in the past two years; once by Munk’s Motors in Detroit and twice by Carey, most recently a couple of weeks ago.

I brought her home from Bremen on Friday and gave her a quick wipe down on Saturday.  I’m pretty sure that I wiped up some trans fluid off of that LR wheel :-/

I just had Hawk break pads installed in the rear, BTW.  Quiet and great stops.  I really don’t want to ruin them.

Any ideas how I could fix this problem once and for all?

I had the same problem on the Speedster right rear side. Al Gallo recounted having problems like that too I think. My trouble every time on disassembly was that bloody large O ring showing evidence of being screwed up ( even slightly ) on assembly. 

You've had some pretty expert people working on yours so my situation may not apply but here goes. The assembly process involves fitting about six things together at the same time and if anything such as that large O ring gets pinched or fouled up on assembly it could lead to failure but you can't see if it got fouled up on assembly so you have to drive it to find out. 

Rather than me try to explain this " new and improved"  order of assembly here, get on the search function above and search       rear axle seal Stroud    where I posted about this before. It's about the fourth or fifth post down. I included a diagram too. It worked for me. 

I remember this being a problem before, Tom- I know it's very frustrating!  Can you tell if it's leaking from the seal around the axle or from the bearing cap/ backing plate surface?

Leaking from the seal/axle- with the car on jack stands, take the drum off and have someone turn the engine over by hand in 1st gear while you're watching the axle to make sure it runs true and is not bent. If bent you'll be replacing the axle. If not, make sure the bearing caps, seals, washers and spacers are the same each side and the seal is properly seated. Torque appropriately- 43 ft. lbs.

If it's leaking from behind the bearing cap I'd check the mating surface of the bearing cap to make sure it's flat as well. If the bearing cap passes the test- check that it's the same part as the other side, and when installing maybe a wee bit of gasket goop on both sides of the paper gasket? Torque appropriately 43 ft. lbs.

That's all I got- Yoda out again _{(see, that wasn't that long!)}

PS- and check out what ^^^ David said too^^^

I had the same recurring problem on my right rear wheel, and I think that might have contributed to my braking problem in “the mishap.”

Often the large O' ring will roll slightly and or get pinched ( examine the old one carefully when you remove it.)   A few times I super cleaned the steel housing and rubber then dabbing  5 - 6 spots of Super Glue on the O ring, place the O ring  on the housing making sure it is seated evenly and allow to set up firmly for a few minutes.   I coated the O ring with a thin coat of grease and carefully bolted the cap back onto the housing .

Not arguing here, but that large O ring has the opportunity to roll if you put it on the steel housing first and then press the cap on and tighten it down. The large O ring has to come finally to rest in the bottom of the cap anyway so if you put it into the bottom of the cap first and grease the bugger up it has little opportunity to roll and become damaged. 

@David Stroud IM Roadster D  Good point !

Wish I’d have thought of all that when I did my installs.  I might have had fewer of them.  I might even have had rear brakes when I needed ‘em.

Tom, I don't know which rear brakes you have, so this may not apply.

But I have the EMPI rear disc kit (which is what VS was installing about 5 years ago if you spec'd 4-wheel discs).

I had recurring seal failures on both sides UNTIL I replaced the stamped steel brake brackets with the more expensive cast brackets.

I could never figure out why EMPI offered two different brackets for the same brakes, until I finally upgraded and realized why. Apparently, the stamped bracket was flexing enough to cause a leak. And, as it happened, some really loud brake shudder at low speed also went away with the new brackets.

So, if you don't have the EMPI rear discs, I guess you can ignore this, but maybe it will help someone else reading the thread.

@Al Gallo went through this to a successful conclusion.  Even though he’s currently living the beachcomber life off in some place warm, here’s what he did:

https://www.speedsterowners.co...ng-axle-seals-update

Look up 311598051S on bugcity.com

And how did he fix it, Gordon ?

@Tom Blankinship

German Axle seal kits available  here.....

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/c...st.cfm?ID=111598051A

How Al fixed it was in that link I posted, but here's the essence of it:

"It turned out that I had pinched an "O" ring somehow in the process and had to do it yet another time. I called Bug City in Ct. and talked with...(name escapes me)...A very helpful guy that has helped me in the past.  He had a German seal kit available for a bit more money which was considerably better than the ones that came with the Rancho Pro Street transmission that I installed.  Well worth the extra few $$$ to end the pain and frustration.  When I received the kits I did both sides again, which had me doing the job a total of 5 times .  3 on one side  and 2 on the other.  I think I could almost do it blindfolded now. "

Look up 311598051S on bugcity.com

My 2013 VS has a right rear leak only when it get cold in California- LOL. Otherwise it seals. Have not looked to see which side of the bearing its coming from. 

David Stroud posted:

And how did he fix it, Gordon ?

I used the German parts, got everything clean enough to eat off, took my time, used a slight smear of high temp silicone, and watched a U-tube video that YOU posted, David. Thanks a bunch for that!

Tom: Bug City site;  Search for these P/Ns:

German seal kit:  311598051G

So-called HD seal kit:  111598051A

I had the same issue multiple times. If I recall there was a burr on the axel. 

Woo Hoo!  I got caught out in the rain the other day, and, since then, the weather has been crappy.  I finally got around to wiping her down today and was dreading wiping down the LR wheel, but, NO trace of trans fluid on the wheel!  I must have just wiped residue off from last year last time 😊😊😊😊😊😊

what I find when we have a axle that continues to seep oil. I change the large spacer out or polish it to give the seal a smooth surface.  need to figure out is it the seal or o-ring and mounting flange.

Listen to Anthony, he fixed my chronic leaker after 3 tries from previous mechanics.