That Salisbury Pinion Seal

[isuzutoo-eh]

Hi all,
I had a flogged salisbury pinion seal, of the old leather type. Tired enough to irregularly drip...
Apparently you can't get the old leather jobs anymore, so I have the genuine rubber replacement variety. Apparently this new seal doesn't work with old flanges... which'd be why it only took a hundred kilometres to flog out again... so I bought another new seal and a matching new flange (the old one had a pretty serious rut where the seal runs anyway).
Seeing as i'm replacing seals and flanges, the method of marking the flange and nut and counting the turns won't work as I can't guarantee the flange and nut will be the same as before.
I also bought a new crush tube and lock nut...
Bearings are in good condition so not going to replace them.

I'm seeking advice on getting this whole shemozzle back together without removing the diff internals to measure the preload. It's all apart on my driveway so I can't just take it to a diff place.

[justinc]

Hi Mark,

It requires a fair bit of force to crush that tube, you may find it difficult by hand lying under the vehicle:(. I have had to use my leg to push the socket bar around in the past....:o

Basically, you want to just preload the bearings, do it up until you JUST begin to feel a little drag on the pinion flange when rotating, then nip it a further 1/16th of a turn.

It is important if you used the original bearings to recheck the preload after a few hundred km I have found, You can usually get another small amount of a turn to reinstate the load and then all should be fine:)

JC

[camel_landy]

Not sure if it's any help now but I got my original pinion re-sleved and used one of the new seals. That way, you can still use the trick of marking up the position, etc...

That was 6+ yrs ago and it has been fine ever since!

M

[LowRanger]

Mark

Make sure when you fit the seal,that the lipped side goes in first.
Also when the spacer starts to collapse,it will collapse very quickly,so be careful that you don't overtighten it,or you will have to replace the crush tube again.
The specs are 17.3-34.5Kgf cm measured with a spring scale, when you are reusing the pinion bearings

[isuzutoo-eh]

Thanks Justin, Wayne and Mr M Dromedary :),
On account of there being roughly 6 or 7mm of crush needed to get the new spacer to match the old one, and Justin's tale of brute strength, i've put the old spacer back in with the other new bits, counted the turns as per the rule of thumb method and am hoping for the best. In daylight i'll pull the axles and have a feel for tightness and drag, might need to crack it tighter or back off a smidgeon.
Cheers,
Mark

[goingbush]

no problems getting the leather seals, genuine from Rimmer brothers
Oil Seal - Differential Pinion - Salisbury Axles - Genuine Land Rover at www.rimmerbros.co.uk (http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-AEU2515)

or a lot cheaper
AEU 2515 - Oil Seal, Differential Pinion, Salisbury Axle (http://www.pegasusparts.co.uk/ourshop_90073/prod_1056125-AEU-2515-Oil-Seal-Differential-Pinion-Salisbury-Axle.html)

[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:


Original leather seal and original flange - these are rubbish and will leak
As above but no leather as LR decided rubber was better - marginally better but still rubbish
Upgrade kit STC4403 (http://www.shop4autoparts.net/Defender/Axle/Differential/stc4403-kit-flange-salisbury-xa.html). Good as it adds the mudshield but the seal is not that great.
Upgrade kit STC4457 (http://www.roverparts.com.au/inc/sdetail/18486). 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 (http://www.lrseries.com/shop/product/listing/15288/72/1/AAU3381-DIFFERENTIAL-PINION-OIL-SEAL.html). 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.

[inside]

no problems getting the leather seals, genuine from Rimmer brothers
Oil Seal - Differential Pinion - Salisbury Axles - Genuine Land Rover at www.rimmerbros.co.uk (http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-AEU2515)

or a lot cheaper
AEU 2515 - Oil Seal, Differential Pinion, Salisbury Axle (http://www.pegasusparts.co.uk/ourshop_90073/prod_1056125-AEU-2515-Oil-Seal-Differential-Pinion-Salisbury-Axle.html)
They are junk don't fit them upgrade the flange and fit the improved seal. This is how it should look once upgraded, much better than the original. You have a shield to stop dirt getting in there and a much better seal.

http://aciai.me/i/u0toA.jpg

[460cixy]

I replaced my leather seal about five or six years ago with a leather seal no leaks so far so I can't realy see what your all on about saying there crap check the breather this is the most likely cause

[inside]

I replaced my leather seal about five or six years ago with a leather seal no leaks so far so I can't realy see what your all on about saying there crap check the breather this is the most likely cause
Of course you should check your breather as this is the easiest. If you are happy with a leather seal that's fine but they were upgraded for a reason. These are off road vehicles, having muddy water past the diff is to be expected and just looking at that AEU2515 seal you can see it's not up to the job. I guess LR agreed.

[goingbush]

Of course you should check your breather as this is the easiest. If you are happy with a leather seal that's fine but they were upgraded for a reason. These are off road vehicles, having muddy water past the diff is to be expected and just looking at that AEU2515 seal you can see it's not up to the job. I guess LR agreed.

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

Albiet the leather seal on my Salisbury is one of the few seals on my 110 that does NOT leak !!

[inside]

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.

[eeyore]

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
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=95233&stc=1&d=1434521978

Pic 2:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=95234&stc=1&d=1434522114

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.. :o

[goingbush]

Pic 2 is how I do it.

[eeyore]

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.

[jerryd]

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:


Original leather seal and original flange - these are rubbish and will leak
As above but no leather as LR decided rubber was better - marginally better but still rubbish
Upgrade kit STC4403 (http://www.shop4autoparts.net/Defender/Axle/Differential/stc4403-kit-flange-salisbury-xa.html). Good as it adds the mudshield but the seal is not that great.
Upgrade kit STC4457 (http://www.roverparts.com.au/inc/sdetail/18486). 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 (http://www.lrseries.com/shop/product/listing/15288/72/1/AAU3381-DIFFERENTIAL-PINION-OIL-SEAL.html). 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 :eek:
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 :confused: 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 (http://www.lrseries.com/shop/product/listing/15288/72/AAU3381-DIFFERENTIAL-PINION-OIL-SEAL.html)

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

[460cixy]

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?

[goingbush]

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.

[eeyore]

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?

[eeyore]

PS Does anyone have the Corteco / Nitto part no. for the AAU3381?

[Wolfman_TWP]

Check out L. R. Series Ltd - specialists in land rover, land rover series and range rover - gearbox, axle, transmission parts, spares and major units (http://www.lrseries.com) as both seals for the part numbers you mention look different..

Wolf

[eeyore]

Thanks, Wolf. That seems to make it pretty clear that the one of received is an AEU2515. Interestingly, if you google image AAU3381 it includes pictures of AEU2515s as well. The boxed one I have is also labelled AAU3381. I think there must be some misinformation among part suppliers about their interchangeability.

[AlecW]

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:


Original leather seal and original flange - these are rubbish and will leak
As above but no leather as LR decided rubber was better - marginally better but still rubbish
Upgrade kit STC4403 (http://www.shop4autoparts.net/Defender/Axle/Differential/stc4403-kit-flange-salisbury-xa.html). Good as it adds the mudshield but the seal is not that great.
Upgrade kit STC4457 (http://www.roverparts.com.au/inc/sdetail/18486). 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 (http://www.lrseries.com/shop/product/listing/15288/72/1/AAU3381-DIFFERENTIAL-PINION-OIL-SEAL.html). 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.

Went through the same odyssey myself, best practice in above comment

[Zcoota]

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:


Original leather seal and original flange - these are rubbish and will leak
As above but no leather as LR decided rubber was better - marginally better but still rubbish
Upgrade kit STC4403 (http://www.shop4autoparts.net/Defender/Axle/Differential/stc4403-kit-flange-salisbury-xa.html). Good as it adds the mudshield but the seal is not that great.
Upgrade kit STC4457 (http://www.roverparts.com.au/inc/sdetail/18486). 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 (http://www.lrseries.com/shop/product/listing/15288/72/1/AAU3381-DIFFERENTIAL-PINION-OIL-SEAL.html). 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.

So I’ve popped to my local landy spares guy who has mentioned that the leather seal has been superseded and I can only get a AAU3381, for the life of we can’t tell why the original flange will chew out the seal. Just wondering if someone could explain why it would ? Cheers

[Zcoota]

I manage to source a leather seal,that I’ll use until I change over the pinion flange. I’ve never used a leather seal, do they need Tom be soaked in oil before use or just pop it straight in ? Cheers