Needing some help - removal of inner driveshaft came with oil

[MikeCorbitt]

I'm installing new shocks and Schwenk springs on my '91. To sufficiently lower the trailing arm to replace the springs I first needed to remove the inner driveshaft joint from the differential.

In doing so exactly 6 ounces of gear oil drained from each side.

Is this normal, or do I have a bad seal that needs replaced?

If normal, do these CVs just self-lubricate from the differential, and I just need bring the gear lube back up to its required level in the diff?

I find nothing in the Haynes or Bentley manuals about this.

Would really appreciate some feedback as I'm hoping to do a little 3-day camping trip this weekend.

Mike
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90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c

[dobryan]

[dobryan]

Actually you can likely reuse the old seal if you are camping this weekend.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[dobryan]

Here is the cap you are resealing in the center of the flange.

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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[T3 Pilot]

Also unclog the Transaxle vent to relieve the gear oil pressure when it heats up.
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1988 Vanagon

The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel......

[MikeCorbitt]

Dave, thanks for the quick reply. Up until I removed the inner CVs there was no indication of a leak. Interesting that it filled each side with 6 ounces of gear oil. I guess that's all that would fit in there.

I'm getting ready to sit down and read your article. Thanks for providing this as I'm goin to be on a tight timeline tomorrow to wrap up everything.

Has the seepage into the CV compromised the CV grease that's in there to where I need to pack some G-6 grease back in there?
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90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c

[riceye]

Make sure the transaxle breather hole is not plugged.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=344159

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'87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads

There's gonna be some changes made.

“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee

"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig

[MikeCorbitt]

Thanks. I wasn't thinking about that but should have as I have an old British car that I periodically keep an eye on the breather hole.
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90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c

[dobryan]

[MikeCorbitt]

Much appreciated, Dave.
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90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c

[MikeCorbitt]

Riceye, great recommendation on the diff breather hole. Totally plugged. Thanks.
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90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c

[MikeCorbitt]

Dave, I basically followed your suggestion except I picked up two new caps at a local VW shop as one of the caps basically fell out. I'm guessing the plugged up breather hole may have been the culprit. I did repack the bearings and now that we're back from camping I plan to pop off the CVs to see if the problem is solved. I'll probably pull both axles in the next few weeks to inspect and repack all the bearings. Again, thanks for the advice as we went off camping with a bit of confidence in not facing a breakdown.
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90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c