Sprint rear axle seals leaking

[olr159w]

Very useful thanks. Didn't see it as abrupt

In my case no oil came out of the screw holes but it had nicely soaked the brake shoes..... fully.

I'm going to see how it goes for a little longer and confirm that it still has a leak but its very useful to know about this workaround

In terms of the job :

- I assume new locktabs are recommended?

- how do you pull out the, say, 1m halfshaft and still keep the brakes in place? The cylinder is on the back of the backplate. I can't remember does that stay put when you withdraw the halfshaft? I'm thinking that must be the case.

I'll let you know how I go in due course. I'm pretty sure it is still leaking but the leak appears to only be showing itself on the inner face of the brake backplate. In other words at this point - having only driven it around the block - I saw no oil inside the drum, only on the back of the backplate.

Any thoughts on that? I did put a reasonable amount of copperease on the brake cylinder slot but I think this was really oil, not any sort of other oozing residue. It is still just possible that it is remnant oil from doing the job in the first place. I'll give it a good degrease and drive it around a bit to check.

thanks

[olr159w]

Also is there a preferred supplier if I do need another one?

Fitchetts don't list them. Rimmers we all seem to be concerned about.

m

[Mad Mart]

They're only a fiver each from Rimmers...

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-141756

Once you have removed the six bolts holding the hub in place you can withdraw the half shaft without touching the brakes. Make sure you keep the shims together, but they will probably stay put. Use new locking tabs if the tabs have fallen off the old ones.




Edit: I've just noticed in the illustration that an eight bolt configuration has been shown. It's definitely six bolts though.

[Jon Tilson]

Sorry I dont have the guy in cyprus details to hand, but I'll try and find some...

He advertises his stuff pretty often on ebay though.

Jonners

[olr159w]

Yeah I know its 6 bolts. I did both sides about 6mths ago

I used Rimmers seals and there's a few folks saying that might not be the best source . So just curious about alternatives. I know the rimmers once are only a fiver - less without VAT - but if they are as good as the correct part fitted and leaking maybe I should get somewhere else.

The locktabs were new so should be re-usable. It's just a bummer all around that I have to re-do it again

m

[Carledo]

- how do you pull out the, say, 1m halfshaft and still keep the brakes in place?

The brake pipe and handbrake cable will stop the backplate from moving TOO far from the case. In any case, once the initial seal is broken you can hold the backplate with one hand and pull the shaft free with the other. I then use a parallel punch to locate the backplate on the axle to keep the strain off the brake pipe.
I'm sure I got my seal from Fitchetts and it was in April this year. If you just looked at their website, you did not see all the parts they hold by a vast margin. Give them a bell and quote the part number, you may be surprised! Fitchetts are a very old school company, printed parts lists and stock control cards are the order of the day! They have only recently (and I think, reluctantly) got the website and it is by no means exhaustive.

Steve

[olr159w]

I'm still keeping an eye on the rear axle. I'll get the wheels off and check inside the drums soon.

However, see this :

WP_20151209_21_46_01_Pro.jpg (103.75 KiB) Viewed 3141 times

This is the NS rear problem corner. The other rear wheel looks normal on it's inner face.

Given location of tyre run marks I'm thinking this might be brake fluid not axle oil.

m

[Carledo]

Simplest test is (don't laugh) taste it! Just the merest smear will tell you what it is, brake fluid tastes absolutely awful whereas gear oil just tastes - oily! Because brake fluid is somewhat poisonous, the manufacturers put something in it by law to make it undrinkable! But a tiny bit won't hurt you, I've been doing it for 45 years and i'm still here.

Steve

[olr159w]

I'll be taking a look at this tomorrow morning. I may try the taste test. I'm more hoping a visual confirms things before.

I have tried rolling the fluid between my fingers and you know how hydraulic fluid feels different. I'm not sure but suspicious. I'll report back

[olr159w]

Well I just took a look.

Brake fluid tastes bitter right. I just found out...... I even double confirmed by trying some right out of the bottle. It's ok, I didn't inhale.

So I think there is a weepy brake fluid union. It explains the residue on the back of the backplate and the marks on the tyres.

With regard to the axle seals there is nothing on the inside lip of the backplate nor any sign of anything anywhere else much except that the part of the drum that adjoins the flat surface of the axle had speckles of oil on it. I cleaned it all up when fitted so still suspicious about this but it looks like I'll need to monitor it over time.

mark

[olr159w]

There is no doubt that the leak as pictured was a small brake fluid leak.

Having looked around inside the brake drums again I am not convinced one of the axles isn't weeping slightly but hard to be sure and I'll just have to keep an eye on it

thanks

[tony g]

Another way to tell if its brake fluid without tasting it which as you now know is pretty vile is that rubbing between thumb and finger it has a grippy type feeling to it whereas oil doesnt

Tony

[olr159w]

Yeah I'd done the grippy finger thing before which is why I already had suspicions. It was old pipe into new brake cylinder and I guess not quite sealing. I think it's ok now.

rgds

[olr159w]

See here first : viewtopic.php?f=4&t=32294

OK so the car has sat there since Dec 15 and only been used a few times. No idea how far but I'd bet no more than 30 miles.

The final issue mentioned above was brake fluid - long story - so now we're just into identifying whatever else.

I looked at it again the other day. The OS that never had the problem before is still completely dry. The NS had one sort of drop of oil collected at the bottom of the brake backplate but not with enough qty to actually drip.

Opinions? Continue to monitor or in denial and really do need to re-do this using the alternate seal mentioned above. Also, if the latter can anyone recommend the best place to purchase.

Thanks