Swivel Ball Leak

[1of40]

My passenger side CV gave up the ghost on the trail while doing some trail maintenance before an upcoming event. Likely user error as I took a sharp left turn on a steep downhill switchback, got in a bind somehow bc I wasn’t paying close attention. Anyway, I proceeded to a flat spot on the trail and did some surgery to remove the short axle/cv.

Long story short, my swivel seal leaked gear oil the rest of the trip whereas it was not before.

What I keep asking myself is what are the odds the seal leaks when I put all the new bits back together. I’m a little short on time and need to get her back in her feet, but at the same time I need her to be ready and able because she’s going to a couple more trail work weekends.

Most of us would say break the whole thing down and do a swivel service I’m sure. But I’m curious what the odds are that when the axel is back in place and the CV has fresh new grease will I be kicking myself.

 

[WaltNYC]

swivel rebuild is not a huge job. And you've already broken it down on a trail so it should be pretty darned easy for you.

But if you are pressed for time you can pull the swivel off the axle end and replace the seal without disassembling the entire hub.

 

[1of40]

swivel rebuild is not a huge job. And you've already broken it down on a trail so it should be pretty darned easy for you.

But if you are pressed for time you can pull the swivel off the axle end and replace the seal without disassembling the entire hub.

Like that idea. thanks

 

[Flyfish]

Also cleaning up both mating surfaces so they’re clean and flat, use Right Stuff instead of the gasket. It won’t leak.

 

[Flyfish]

And good advice from waltnyc……pull the caliper off and just Pull the entire hub assembly. Pretty quick and easy job.

 

[discostew]

Not sure you did anything with this yet. If you don’t have an axle handy you should be able to drive it out with the diff locked.
I would get all the big pieces out of there and slam it back together without the axle in it. Depending on how far you are from home you could either get the truck out to where a tow truck can get at it, or drive it home.

 

[1of40]

Not sure you did anything with this yet. If you don’t have an axle handy you should be able to drive it out with the diff locked.
I would get all the big pieces out of there and slam it back together without the axle in it. Depending on how far you are from home you could either get the truck out to where a tow truck can get at it, or drive it home.

Yep, this is what I did to get off the trail and home 3 hours later. My issue is the swivel seal developed a leak on the way off the trail. I had to stop and top off the diff every 30 minutes. Planning to take the advice above unless I find trouble on the swivel ball when I pull the old seal.

 

[WaltNYC]

If you are losing oil from the front differential it suggests the axle oil seal is damaged/worn. That would be revealed by pulling the swivel/hub from the axle end in one piece.

The seal is #8 in this picture.

See chapter 54 of the D1 workshop manual for the full breakdown. Can be found in my signature.

 

[1of40]

If you are losing oil from the front differential it suggests the axle oil seal is damaged/worn. That would be revealed by pulling the swivel/hub from the axle end in one piece.

The seal is #8 in this picture.

See chapter 54 of the D1 workshop manual for the full breakdown. Can be found in my signature.

Thanks, that was user error in my part. I was on the side of a trail with guys waiting for me and not thinking through things well enough.

 

[p m]

Chances are that the shrapnel from the CV made its way under the gaiter seal.
Every time that happened to me I spent more time fishing for the steel shards in the ball than the rest of the CV joint replacement process.

 

[discostew]

Yep, this is what I did to get off the trail and home 3 hours later. My issue is the swivel seal developed a leak on the way off the trail. I had to stop and top off the diff every 30 minutes. Planning to take the advice above unless I find trouble on the swivel ball when I pull the old seal.

That’s because the axle was out of it. Walt’s picture is great. The front axle is basically 3 different areas all sealed off from one another. The gear oil and swivel housing are separated by the seal #8. The stub axle seal #23 keeps the swivel housing grease out of the wheel bearings( that’s the seal that causes oil on your wheels). Then the wheel bearing seal keeps the bearing grease from coming out of the backside of your wheel.

 

[1of40]

That’s because the axle was out of it. Walt’s picture is great. The front axle is basically 3 different areas all sealed off from one another. The gear oil and swivel housing are separated by the seal #8. The stub axle seal #23 keeps the swivel housing grease out of the wheel bearings( that’s the seal that causes oil on your wheels). Then the wheel bearing seal keeps the bearing grease from coming out of the backside of your wheel.

Yep, makes perfect sense. Thanks. All new seals and gaskets going in this weekend if I'm good and lucky.

 

[discostew]

pay close attention to the direction the stub axle seal goes in. Almost everybody wants install them backwards.

 

[jymmiejamz]

pay close attention to the direction the stub axle seal goes in. Almost everybody wants install them backwards.

So true