Technical Oil leak from driveshaft

[rpaterson]

I've got an oil leak from the inner end of my driveshaft on the passenger side. I know that it's a new leak coz it leaves oil on the drive that I've not seen before yesterday. The oil runs down the inner end of the driveshaft / CV joint assembly and isn't being caused by something dripping onto it from above. Coincidentally, I changed the passenger side wishbone yesterday.

I don't believe in coincidences like this so I have to assume that I've disturbed something when doing the wishbone. Has anyone had this problem before and if so, were you able to fix it without stripping out the driveshaft? Are there any kind of stop-leak things you can buy for gearboxes like you can for engines / radiators??

 

[shaun2007]

I'd strip it out mate. Not too bad a job really.

I don't know how effective these stop leak products really are tbh.

Sorry I can't be of any more help

 

[Mdeko]

most probabily the driveshaft seal, only a few £ to replace plus the cost of new gearbox oil.

 

[richie.guy]

most probabily the driveshaft seal, only a few £ to replace plus the cost of new gearbox oil.

Aye, diff cup seal.

Easy job.

 

[rpaterson]

UPDATE

When I was doing the wishbone, the driveshaft got pulled back and forward a wee bit. Thinking this may have disturbed a seal, I seperated the hub from the damper and pulled the driveshaft in and out a couple of times, then bolted it back together. So far it seems to have worked. The leak was only apparent when the car had been for a run, you couldn't replicate it by just jacking it up and turning the wheel a few times - it would only do it when oil was circulating around the box properly. I put a bit of paper under the car last night and it was clean this morning so I think I may have been able to 'flip' the seal back into place. I'll keep an eye on it though.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[shaun2007]

Well done mate. Glad it's sorted (hopefully)

 

[rpaterson]

Aye, either the leak has been fixed - or there's no oil left in the box.

Only kidding - but I'll check the level soon. On a related note, my drive slopes so I can jack up the front of the car to get under it to check the oil level. How do you know if the car is level? Could I put a spririt level across the side skirts or do they slope at an angle? Know what I mean???

 

[ivorpunto2]

Hi, You do not need to jack the car if the gearbox oil filler is on the front of the gearbox. You can loosen the filler plug with a suitable sixe hex ( allen key) socket. Oil can be filled with a squeegy oil bottle from above or from below. With the car on a level road, put oil in until it seeps out the fill hole. BTW if the diff bearings are worn, the inner drive shaft seals can leak. To check this, wiggle the inner driveshaft joint relative to the gearbox and check for free play.

ivor

 

[rpaterson]

Yup that's cool, I know about the whole level-checking process as I've drained and filled the box before. I was asking the question to see what people used to check that the car was sitting level 'if' it was jacked up on a slope. An example would be my previous 328i that sat too low to get underneath and the box was under the floorpan. I ended up taping some string between the front and rear wheelarches and using that as my datum!

RE diff bearing wear. If I grab the driveshaft and try to pull it back and forward (as if I was trying to remove it), how much play should there be?

 

[ivorpunto2]

As far as I know, the taper diff bearings have a preload and there should be no free play ( ie the bolted flange tightens the bearings a bit on installation) unlike a taper wheel bearing which usually has a bit of free play. The driveshafts are leaking on my Punto and I have already replaced the seals and it still leaks. There is noticeable side to side play at the inner drive shafts. The car has 67k miles. I will be replacing the all the gearbox bearings shortly ( when I finish fixing the old Escort I have so I can get to work ).

ivor

 

[rpaterson]

I think that my driveshafts have maybe 1mm or so of back/forth play. I think this is just in the shaft, I don't think that the actual inner end of the shaft/flange/cup moves.

 

[ivorpunto2]

Hi, I removed the gearbox today as before Christmas the car would not go in any gear. 2 of the pinion gears in the diff have no teeth left. It means either new pinion gears or a new diff assy. The car was reversing at the time so all the casings are ok. The diff taper bearings were worn as well. I have a full set of gearbox bearings purchased off e-bay to fit. Finish dismantling the box tomorrow and check for other worn parts. Previous driver does not see connection between nearly worn out clutch ( in 9000 miles), the broken diff bearings, and 34 MPG.

Ivor