Rear Axle Seal 61 Swing Axle

[johber41]

Suggestions please. I noticed that my rear passenger side axle seal leaks occasionally and oil will be slung out of the brake drum through a small drain which was obviously designed for this problem. I have replaced the seal at least three times already and followed instruction to the tee with You Tube and with local direction. The thing still leaks and even more important, after pulling the buggy back to Seabrook after the Round-Up, the right rear wheel slung oil all over the inside wheel well and it has been dripping out of there since. I have a 1961 swing axle system. The seals have always been new and clean and there does not appear to be any burrs on the wheel spacer. I always use the right seal kit and apply the right torque when replacing the rear axle nut. I just can not stop the leak. It almost always fouls the brake on that side as well.

Thanks in advance for any assistance,

John

[Ken]

Hi John... just thinking out loud here, but what's the source of this oil? I expect it is the wheel bearing grease? But are you positive you don't have a leaky wheel brake cylinder or connection?

I suppose its possible a transaxle leak could run down the axle shaft to the wheel area, but the resulting mess under the car I would think would make that an obvious transaxle issue.

[Ken]

Well a quick web search and I quickly realized how little I know about the swing axles. I had no idea the transaxle oil was used to lubricate the wheel bearings. Makes my above comments kind of... well dumb.

You probably already saw this:
http://www.vw-resource.com/rear_seal.html

www.TheSamba.com may have some related topics as well.

[johber41]

Thanks for your response Ken, I have tried to beat this leak forever and have gone through a series of seal kits. It is trans-axle lube for sure. I have watched every informative video on You Tube, I have purchased the Brazilian and Mexican kits after the EMPI ones failed, but this is one of those challenging leaks that just won't go away. It has been minor this last time up until I pulled the buggy home. I did not see a leak while we were at the Buggy Roundup so something has failed since the trip home. I have an additional kit (bought a hand-full of them) and I will pull it apart and give it another shot. I have cleaned and smoothed every surface and assembled the kits in the proper order. I spoke to a mechanic at the local German auto parts store and repair shop and he told me that he had a car years ago that just never stopped leaking. It was minor but leaking the whole time he owned it. These older models have a drain system in the brake drums that are designed to get the oil out of the drum to avoid brake failure.

Thanks again Ken

[Bryan Porter]

Make sure the o ring on the axle and spacer with groove line up right.

[johber41]

Thanks Bryan...giving it another shot tonight...

[johber41]

I removed the old seal and replaced it. Cleaned everything up and installed the new seal. Re-torqued the brake drum and topped off the trans-axle with 90 weight oil. We will see. I did not see anything out of order and I was careful with the new "O" ring seals. I guess we will see. Bryan, can you tell me if the wheel spacer is supposed to turn with the axle with the spacer turning on the rubber seal, or does the spacer stand stationary with the axle turning inside the spacer? That might explain a potential problem!

Thanks..John

[johber41]

More pics during rear axle seal replacement

[Bryan Porter]

It turns with the axle.

[Ken]

Nice pictures John. Let us know.

[johber41]

Thanks guys....I will give her a few miles and then let it sit over night...I took a little extra care in the installation in case I was missing something. No puddles tomorrow would be a good thing!

[johber41]

Well...it leaks! I have an idea though, and i believe that the problem lies with the spacer. I wonder if at times the axle has been spinning inside the spacer, maybe wearing it down a bit. It slips on very easily, but I do not feel any play in it. I think I know how I can check this.

[BrianB]

It shouldn't spin if you have it all torqued down. Re torque the axle nut again and again. Hit it with the impact too. I found mine loosened up not too long after install.

[johber41]

I have re-assembled it again and I am practically lifting the car with the torque bar as I tighten the nut. I will give it a few miles and then try tightening it again...thanks Brian

[johber41]

I kind of formulated a plan to see if the spacer was bad by just wiping a light coating of permatex on the inside of the spacer and on the side with the "o" ring and then put it all back together. The leak is extremely minor, just a drip after heavy driving, but it is still there! I am going with the problem being a bad spacer. New spacers and seals ordered...stay tuned!

Thanks for the suggestions

[johber41]

Once again, I changed the seal out with a new kit but this time I also changed out the spacer. I have my fingers crossed.

[johber41]

Interesting....so far since the new spacer and seal on the passenger side rear axle, there has not been a sign of leaking. I figured I would take the driver's side apart to inspect for any leaking there. The axle nut on the driver's side was so loose that I spun it off with my hand, but no leaking. I cleaned up the brake shoes and drums with a little steel wool and re-assembled. Wow...4 wheels with brakes! That sure feels different. I am going to join some VDub guys for a cruise tomorrow (absent any rain) and see how the seal holds. Thanks for the advice along the way guys.

John