IRS transmission seal replacement

[turbomicrowaves]

My IRS has been leaking from the inner cv joint for some time now and I have finally decided to fix it. When I drive it flings gear oil everywhere underneath the car. Anyways, I bought the seals and took the axle and cvs out and found this:

This is what is left of the old seal.

Correct me if I am wrong but this doesn't appear normal. There seems to be some abnormal wear and looks like the gears are being pushed out. Does this mean I need a rebuild?
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'68 Sunroof Squareback

"There are no pieces"

OCT3 - Orange County Type 3's

[Notched]

I just replaced both sides on my son's IRS. Looks like you need to get the rest of the seal out. Be carefull with the center of the new seal when you put it in, it is only rubber in the center, with metal on the outside.
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Phillip Bradfield

Current stock: '57 Panel Bus, '63 Rat Notch, '64 Baja, '66 Variant, '67 Convertible Ghia, '68 Squareback, '69 Squareback, '69 Fastback

Southern Oregon VW Club -- http://www.sovw.org

Oregon VW Forum -- http://www.oregonvw.org

[raygreenwood]

No. But there are several details that can cause this. What you are seeing that you refer to as "gears" are the splines on the end of the shaft.

What it appears you are missing is the snap ring that keep the drive axle flange from moving in and out on the splined axle shaft. This allows the splined shaft to beat against the sealing cap and pop it out...and cause oil to leak into the CV joint and grease.

This can happen because of an old snap ring that does not fit tight being used or a worn snap ring groove no holding the snap ring in.....or a worn spacer ring behind the CV joint flange.....which allows too much in and out movement of the flange...which beats the end of the shaft againt the cap...popping the cap loose and leaking oil.......or in some cases if the drive shaft is slightly too long or the wrong one (doubt it) the end of the shaft on the CV joint beats on the cap and bends it enough that it pops out and leaks oil.

First thing to do is pull the drive flange off...and clean everything well. If the seals are not recent...now is a good time to replace the seal. Make sure you have the little "C" shaped steel shim that goes around the axle and up against the bearing inner race. If that is missing....that is what is causing your problem.

Clean the snap groove well and get a NEW snap ring. Install the hub and snap ring. Pull in and out on the CV hub. There should be only a small amount of in and out movement....off the top of my head..maybe .003" to .005" of movement. Check the bentley on this. If there is a lot more movement....get a new spacer ring or a shim.
If when pulling in and out on the CV hub...the snap ring happens to pop loose and let the hub pull off....the groove is worn. You can clean everything well...mask off the entry to the bearing with tape and plastic and use a dremel tool and needle file to deepen and square up the snap ring groove just slightly so the snap ring stays in.

Find a socket the exact diameter of the sealing plug and drive it in square. I spread a very thin smear of high temp RTV around the rim and let it dry overnight before re installing the CV axle. Ray

[Notched]

The snap ring may be intact under the remaining part of the seal.
_________________
Phillip Bradfield

Current stock: '57 Panel Bus, '63 Rat Notch, '64 Baja, '66 Variant, '67 Convertible Ghia, '68 Squareback, '69 Squareback, '69 Fastback

Southern Oregon VW Club -- http://www.sovw.org

Oregon VW Forum -- http://www.oregonvw.org

[turbomicrowaves]

After a closer look, I realized that the rest of the seal was still stuck in there, like Notched stated. I used "gears" for lack of a better word, but you're right, Ray. I was trying to sound like I knew what I was talking about, oops. Anyways, I pried the rest of the old seal out and found the snap ring still intact. I cleaned the flange and popped in the new seal. Greased the inner cv as it was nearly dry and reinstalled everything. I drove the car to work and didn't see any leaks, so hopefully that fixed it.

I didn't pull the drive flange, I do have the seal for it also, but it didn't seem to be leaking from there. When I pulled the cv it spewed gear oil. I did notice a little play in the axle, I may go through it again tomorrow to check for that shim.

Thanks for the advice.
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'68 Sunroof Squareback

"There are no pieces"

OCT3 - Orange County Type 3's

[thestu1234]

This is a photo of my inner cv joint.
Is this what yours looked like when it was leaking? This is a photo of the bottom of the cv
Sorry if im posting this wrong im new to The samba

[/img]

[turbomicrowaves]

When my transmission was leaking it was coming from the outer drive flange seal. The oil was coming out between the cv joint and the out edge of the drive flange. Yours looks like its leaking from the seal behind the drive flange.

Here's a picture of the seal I'm talking about.

_________________
'68 Sunroof Squareback

"There are no pieces"

OCT3 - Orange County Type 3's

[Lip Ripper]

Does anyone know the part numbers for the inner and outer seals?

[turbomicrowaves]

Inner flange seal: 113301189A

Outer flange seal/cap: 113517289A
_________________
'68 Sunroof Squareback

"There are no pieces"

OCT3 - Orange County Type 3's