Thread: That Salisbury Pinion Seal

Originally Posted by goingbush

How long did it take LR to wake up tho, 1958 Landcruiser had mud slingers as standard.

Haha I guess this is where the old "Land Rovers leak oil" saying began? Really though the AAU3381 seal is a very good quality item. You might find as I have you order AEU2515 not knowing any different and AAU3381 arrives and then may as well just change the flange and not worry for 100 000 km+, well that's my hope any way.

Just a side note I got told from a reputable SEQLD LR repair shop, and a lot of people use them here on the forum, that and I quote "It is bull**** that there were two flanges. We have fitted hundreds of these seals (AAU3381) and never once did we change the flange."

I'm telling you that there are two flanges for a Salisbury. If you want the new seal get the upgraded flange with mud shield. It will not work with the early flange.

Reviving an old thread here...

Could someone confirm for me which is the outer face (ie toward flange) of the AAU3381 seal, pic 1 or pic 2?

Pic 1


Pic 2:


Had a look a few threads / pictures and couldn't be absolutely certain about orientation. Also didn't want to just assume the current seal is correctly fitted. Have made that mistake before..

Pic 2 is how I do it.

Thanks mate. Makes sense; other way around would require the seal to be seated a long way into the diff nose for it to sit flush with the edge of the casting.

Originally Posted by inside

I went through this whole pinion seal early/late flange and different seal issue not long ago. I hope this can help someone in the future.

Firstly there are four types of seals and two flanges that will fit a LR Salisbury. These are combinations of:

1. Original leather seal and original flange - these are rubbish and will leak
2. As above but no leather as LR decided rubber was better - marginally better but still rubbish
3. Upgrade kit STC4403. Good as it adds the mudshield but the seal is not that great.
4. Upgrade kit STC4457. Not sure how this differs from the above.

Now you would think this is simple, just get STC4403 or STC4457 and change it all. But there's yet another seal AAU3381. Now this is a much improved seal and will actually last, you need to couple this with a flange that incorporates a mud shield. It will not fit the earlier flange as it will chew it out.

So in summary, always use AAU3381 and change the flange to one that incorporates a mud shield. As for torque and counting turns, just do what Justin said above, it worked for me.

I recently changed the seal on my dormobile as it was leaking slightly, but the new seal leaked even worse
I then purchased another new seal and a new flange and fitted these. I'm rather surprised that it's still leaking quite badly. I removed the brass breather and have cleaned that out and after a road test it seemed to have cured the leak.
However, two days later and there is now a huge puddle under the axle The leak is between the rubber and the flange. The seal is this type -

AAU3381 DIFFERENTIAL PINION OIL SEAL | Land Rover Series 1, 2 & 3 Axle Seals | shop | www.lrseries.com

Just purchased number 3 seal from M R Automotive ready to fit but am I doing something wrong ??

I must still have the only leather pinion seal that seals. if there so rubbish how come mines been dry for close to ten years?

I also purchased AAU3381 from one of the online vendors, not because the existing seal was leaking , but to replace noisy bearing. New seal leaked, no time to order another so took old seal to CBC for an equivalent size and bought a Nitto boxed seal, very expensive I thought at $28 but worked like a charm.

Aaaarrrgggghhhh, this seal again! Installed the one photographed above which is leaking again after about 10K km - not really surprised given it got accidently squashed before it was installed. Anyhow, ordered a new one online and it's completely different (as pic attached) - I guess it's an AEU2515? I have the later flange (STC4403) so I assume I need the AAU3381?