Rear Axle Oil Seal

[ABfish]

I'm renewing the rear brakes on my MKIII, along with new rear axle bearings and seals.

The new bearings came with a paper washer and O-ring. I also see the O-rings in the VB catalog. There were no O-rings installed on either side of my car, and I can't see a groove that they might fit in.

Where the heck do these O-rings go?

 

[BlueMax]

The O-ring groove is cut into the rear axle hub under the paper gasket. Take an awl or a pick to dig out, and then wire brush the residue from hub that the old neoprene left. You can silicon sparingly or hold the O-ring in place with grease when you reassemble.

 

[ABfish]

Thanks, Max. I either need better lighting in my shop or eyeglasses.

With a little probing, I realized that the old paper gasket was still on the hub. It matched the hub perfectly in color.