How does one change the driveshaft oil seals on a 1.9 JTD (115bhp)?

The nearside one has been leaking for ages and it's getting a bit tedious checking the gearbox oil and topping it up a bit, every couple of months. It's just a bit too parky for too many driveway shenanigans..

I'm okay as far as dismantling everything back to the spider/tripoid cup. This is supposed to just "pop out" if you lever it. Any special tips/techniques?

Then what about the seal itself? It looks like it has a metal face and a rubber/plastic seal behind it. Is the metal face part of the seal, or is it just a cap that I would need to put back afterwards (i.e. does it matter if it gets wrecked on removal)?

I presume the old seal just levers out (interference fit) and the new one gets tapped in..?


Ralf S.

Replaced both of mine when I took the gear box out a few years ago to fit a new clutch and DMF.

There's no circlip holding the driveshaft in, so it just pulls out. The rubber/plastic seal is bonded to the metal face part and can be levered out with a large flat tipped screw driver or an oil seal removal tool. Be careful not to scratch the oil seal housing in the gearbox. Picture below shows the oil seal fitted.

I've a vague recollection that the left and right seals are different sizes.
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