continually weeping rear hub seal...what am I missing?

[86mud]

Hi all

My 1998 130 has a hub on the left hand rear that continually weeps. I am using a Corteco RTC3511 each time, but I seem to be replacing the seal and cleaning up the mess within a 12 month period.

The surfaces of the hub are not pitted or corroded and I make sure everything is spotlessly clean before reassembly, the new seal is placed in line with the surface of the hub, new seal is lubed and then hub refitted carefully with hub nut and lock washer torqued down as per the manual.

Any ideas on what else to look for or is there a better seal?

Thanks heaps

[harro]

Check that the diff breather isn't blocked.

[newhue]

Its a guess based on a friends continually leaking flanges. A bent diff.
This diff was bent on the short side, forward. Put the alignment out on just about everything and would slowly eat out seals, axels, and flanges. Diff Lapping at Kedron did the repair I believe. All good afterwards.
It was though being ex army, a mad dash reverse into a rock, log, or ditch may have done he damage, but hard to say.

[justinc]

Next time you pull it off, grab a new seal and check that it has some degree of tightness on the actual seal surface on the axle stub. I have seen some variance of OD on these stubs if non OEM ones are used. The seal should be fairly tight on there. A little bit of oil on the seal lips will be required.

Are you drifting the seal in exactly level? I use the drive flange to do this and drive the seal all the way in until it stops. The inner lip still seals and the seal will run in a different spot to where it has always been previously too.

JC

[86mud]

G'day Jason. I hope the diff housing is not bent! I has not had a hit since I have owned it. The leak has only been happening over the last two years. I saw you the other week coming off the story bridge. I was in my Peugeot 504 so you probably wondered who was waving at you.

Thanks heaps Justin. I have been drifting the seal in flush with the hub surface, but I will try to drift it in a little further.

I have extended diff breathers using brass elbows at the diff running through 8mm hose and terminating under the bonnet on the firewall with fuel filters. But I will check these to make sure they are not blocked.

Just ordering a new seal now.

Cheers

[dromader driver]

Got a picture of the seal after removal?

[86mud]

Actually I do, from when I did it last time in August 2015

These pictures show everything cleaned up with new hub seal inserted

[weeds]

I had issues for a while as well.....even fitted new stub, after the second time it started to leak I gave it to a workshop....they had two attempts as well.

I assuming you have oil filled hubs...?

Four seals, one stub, a half arsed fitter and a mechanic it was fixed

[steveG]

Looks from the photo like the seal isn't deep enough. Use JC's method of using the drive flange as an installation tool. Works perfectly every time I've done it that way.

Steve

[justinc]

Yes seal doesn't look in far enough...

Jc

[dromader driver]

there are comments on the online stuff by bearmach about setting the seal much further in. Recently did my front bearings and seals and could not get a straight answer as to how far the seal needs to go in. in this video around 9 mins 30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtbQFAftCV8

Might need to be seated further in.

[86mud]

rightio! I see he drifted the seal 4mm past the the hub surface!

[justinc]

Andrew i would be ignoring that and just hammer the sucker all the way in till it stops. The vid is using the ftc4785 seals which are the 4mm depth ones with no garter springs and are totally useless. They let water in and grease out... Rtc3511 need full depth fitting ☺

[86mud]

Thanks Justin. I have only ever used Corteco RTC3511 seals. From memory the reason I was only drifting in the seal flush with the surface of the hub was that the seal had a slight lip on the outer circumference and I thought this was to sit flush on the hub surface.

I'll check when the new seal arrives today in the post.

Cheers

[86mud]

Here is a picture of the seal (Corteco RTC3511) and you can see the lip on the outer circumference.

So I am assuming it is ok to the push seal into hub passed this lip?

[weeds]

Yes, I have in the past.....

[loanrangie]

That outer lip should sit flush with the edge of the hub.

[86mud]

Twice previously I have pushed the seal in just using my fingers so that the lip is flush with the hub surface and both times they have ended up leaking.

See pics attached. I have pushed the new seal in further this time. Fingers crossed this works!

[weeds]

I have always needed a hammer to get the deal in....you sure it's not leaking between the OD of the seal and the hub?

[86mud]

To push the seal lower then the hub surface this time I had to use a hammer and a piece of pipe.

Fingers crossed!