Swing Axle Seal that WON'T!

[tubbugs]

Several times together and apart with a swing axle seal that won't seal, keeps leaking. Thought of many things it could be and remedied them all but gear lube is coming through the NEW Elring seal. It is clearly visible there when I pull the drum and every thing is spotless clean redone so I can easily see it's not from anywhere else. Thought the spacer/bushing the seal rides on may be the problem but it is not nicked or damaged. Buffed and polished it smooth and reinstalled and still lube gets through. Anyone had similar experience and what was the culprit? Anyone know if there is a "Speedy Sleeve" for the bushing or slightly oversize bushing? This is a new bushing that I had from a kit where I needed only one in another car years ago and still had it and it's installed with a new seal kit.

Another thought, could the bearing be loose or wore enough that sitting on the ground it moves the axle up in the opening creating the leak out the seal bottom? The bearing doesn't feel loose and is very smooth when spun but it may take less play than I can feel.

I'm almost at my wits end and feel confident that I'm not the only one to have had this and just need to connect with one of you experts who may have.

Thanks in advance for your help and input!

Tubbugs in Muskegon

[rwk]

small seal oring that goes around axle that seals the sleeve to axle? both sides doin it? overfilled trans or too much camber, should get just enough oil there to keep bearing wet, old swing axles had a cup that fit around axle in place of seal, with a small tube that went out thru small hole in drum to let out excess oil that got by what ever seals they had then,cant recall.
rwk

[tubbugs]

Hey rwk, thanks for the ideas. The O ring you mention is sealed as the oil would then be coming out between the sleeve/spacer and the axle. I had that issue earlier with a cut in that O ring so purchased a new seal kit. Only one side doing it, other is bone dry regardless of the angle I set the car (I jack the problem side up as high as I can to keep the lube back while I clean, inspect etc.). I am filling the trans level with the fill plug on a level floor and don't think that's over filled. Through the course of sealing and re-sealing I leaked around a pint out and re-topped it off so I'd have considered that low on lube. I'm considering trying a bearing in the event that the weight of the buggy sitting on the ground is letting it barely lift that axle off center enough to leak. It's really got me, I've had numerous VW's and trans swaps and never had this leak.

[MadMike]

sure u have the right seal.bearing cap? their are a cpl. different ones
Most of the time it's the gasket on them, clean real good with brake clean and use locktite 'motoseal' it's gray and never hardens
Good luck

[tubbugs]

Mike,I'm pretty sure that everything is correct based on fit of the seal and other components. It is clearly the seal around the spacer/bushing since, as I mentioned, everything is very clean and I can see the gear lube at the seal when I pull the drum off. I'm not sure of the year of the transaxle and axles other than 6V swing (pre 67?) but that is certainly possible. It is just what came in this ratty ol' rail. I'll dig in some more and see if I can find a seal with a better fit to the bushing surface where it rides.

Thanks Very Much for your thoughts and advise. I'll get some Motoseal promptly.

[choptopbob]

did one of the fulcom plates slip behind your axle upon install? If I remember right, this happened to me years ago and it leaked bad till I took it apart and figured out why.

[tubbugs]

Thanks Bob for that experience but, if that were the case wouldn't the drum be loose or away from the other components or proper tightening be attained due to the axle holding the bearing away from the axle flange? However, if it leaks after yet another try I'll pull the boot and look, anything's possible and if it happened to you it could to me. Thanks again and I'll post my solution....... Someday!

[choptopbob]

Exactly. The axle nut still tightened down but did not pull the bearing in tight to seat the axle flange.

Reread your post, I'm trying to remember if there are different crush bushings for IRS/swing or something. I really need to get back in the garage. Everything is getting to be hard to remember it's been so long ago. Hope you get it figured out.

[duneman]

Some years ago I chased an oil leak and replaced 5 or 6 seal kits.  Finally, someone suggested I might have a bad bearing.  He was right!  I replaced the bearing and it fixed the leak. 
You have to visualize the car sitting on its wheels and the axle pushing up while the axle tube pushes down.  Thus creating an "Oval" at the seal allowing oil to pass by.   Just another thought for your problem.
Duneman

[tubbugs]

Duneman, I think you hit it and I questioned it earlier (3rd post). I'm not stupid but I'd have never guessed that bearing had enough wear to cause the condition you describe. I was wrong! Was up to the dunes last week and bought a seal kit and bearing and it seems to have cured the problem. In fact, after a year, I drove the thing around the hood yesterday until the shifter broke! The seal kit was a different one than I'd gotten the time before and has Victor gaskets and a Victor seal with a different inner lip configuration than the Elring I'd had prior. I'm gonna check when I get out there today and am hopeful I'll be dry. Then a piece of glass, battery and hold down and some kind of horn and off to the next money pit! Again, my thanks to all for the info and help.