Rear Axle - Differential

[Richard the old one]

If you wish to change the pinion oil seal you first have to remove a cover part UKC725 Shield (Flange) to get to the drive flange retaining nut. My question is was this shield introduced to catch any oil leaking up the splines which I have found does happen. Having removed the shield (Flange) to replace the pinion oil seal I could not get the shield to reseal and I had to resort to sealing the joint between the axle drive flange and the prop shaft drive flange.

[Richard the old one]

I have just been reading the January 2023 edition of Practical Classics which arrived during the week it includes a section on final drives. The bit that caught my eye was it states "Sometimes oil fills the void between pinion flange and propshaft flange. Either tighten pinion nut or if tight, remove pinion flange, washer and nut, degrease them and reinstall with RTV sealant." I have found a much simpler and quicker to put RTV sealant between the pinion flange and the propshaft flange.