Rear Axle Oil Seal

[Alan W.]

I am repairing a leak in the rear axle and when disassembled the oil seal was pressed into the hub with the lip side against the bearing. Normally an oil seal is pressed in lip side first, which would place the non-lip side against the bearing. What is the correct orientation of the rear axle hub oil seal?
Alan

 

[red57]

Hi Alan,

Nope, It was right. The lip is orientated towards the outside of the car - seems kinda counter-intuitive but the oil path is out the axle and into the bearing and the oil is captivated on the outside by the axle flange and trying to escape inward towards the differential. Picture from the Bentley book.

Dave

 

[Alan W.]

Dave,
Thanks again. I saw that diagram in my service manual, but the seal orientation is not mentioned.
Alan

 

[Alan W.]

Dave (red57),
Is the oil seal pressed all the way into the hub, this leaves a space between the oil seal lip and the bearing or is it partially pressed in and pressing the bearing in keeps the seal lip against the bearing?
Alan

 

[red57]

The seal presses all the way in. It is not sealing against the bearing. The seal is sealing on the axle housing that the bearing slides onto (the part with the large nut you removed to pull the hub off). The axle housing is not shown in that parts drawing.

If you haven't done this before, read and pay particular attention to section J.4 when you re-assemble. Use a straight edge and feeler gauges to confirm that the bearing outer race spacer (part #9) protrudes as described so the bearing gets 'pinched' and can't spin in the housing - you may have to make a different thickness gasket (or, in some cases just sealer and no gasket) to achieve the .001 to .004 the book calls for.