Fluid Leak around Passenger side front drive shaft?

Jakg · 31st July 2016, 17:54

Replacing the brake fluid and came across this on the front passenger side driveshaft.

The fluid looks to be sprayed in a circular pattern perpendicular to the end of the rubber boot.

I've had a Google and the closest thing I can find is it being a driveshaft / differential oil seal? It's had three clutches (don't ask) and for the last two the driveshafts were removed without the seals being replaced.

If it is the above - is it something easily DIY-able? RAVE makes it looks ok except for the gearbox oil and using a special tool to remove the driveshaft.

tallboy · 31st July 2016, 17:58

Grease looks to have been thrown from the end of the spinning driveshaft boot. Either the clip is loose/lost or the boot has split.

T-Cut · 31st July 2016, 18:57

The first picture shows what looks suspiciously like a torn boot (just inside/around the small end clip).
I suspect you'll find the spit is almost all around. Push the boot inwards to check.

TC

Jakg · 1st August 2016, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Cut

The first picture shows what looks suspiciously like a torn boot (just inside/around the small end clip).
I suspect you'll find the spit is almost all around. Push the boot inwards to check.

TC

Bingo!

I make that TDR100930 - inner drive shaft joint gaiter?

RAVE seems to suggest that you need to remove the driveshaft, which means refilling the gearbox oil which is a bit beyond me....

The fluid that's coming out - is that gearbox oil or some kind of grease packing the joint?

klarzy · 1st August 2016, 21:39

the build up looks like grease, oil would just look like a damp patch...

Arctic · 2nd August 2016, 00:10

Drain the gear box oil first make sure you can undo the refill bolt both should be Allen key types.

case of removing the drive shaft, you can use a pry bar to help quite easy but make sure you remove it out straight otherwise you can damage the driveshaft seal.

Replace the gaiter making sure you pack it out with the new grease, before re-fitting the driveshaft replace to ring on the end of the driveshaft, again making sure you fit it straight.

Refill with the right oil
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2916835118...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

You can also purchase this pump to help doing the refill.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-Tra...MAAOSwd0BV1z2P

Jakg · 4th August 2016, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctic

Drain the gear box oil first make sure you can undo the refill bolt both should be Allen key types.

case of removing the drive shaft, you can use a pry bar to help quite easy but make sure you remove it out straight otherwise you can damage the driveshaft seal.

Replace the gaiter making sure you pack it out with the new grease, before re-fitting the driveshaft replace to ring on the end of the driveshaft, again making sure you fit it straight.

Refill with the right oil
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2916835118...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

You can also purchase this pump to help doing the refill.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-Tra...MAAOSwd0BV1z2P

Thanks for the information.

I'll be honest, I'm feeling a bit of a wuss. Happy to give new stuff a go, just need a bit of encouragement that it's not that hard! Forgive all the questions...

Car had new gearbox oil about two years ago so would just top up.

I don't know how long it's been leaking (I think it's been a while). I won't have time to sort out this weekend, or next, so most likely to be the weekend after... is that too long to leave it?

From what I understand, I will need to:

Remove Driveshaft:
Separate track rod end - fine
Separate bottom ball joint - fine
Remove hub nut - fine
Remove driveshaft (using "special tool" according to RAVE) - no idea?? I don't own a prybar, either - if it's needed can anyone recommend one, or ideally a picture of what needs to be done?

Replace Gaiter:
Remove outer gaiter
Remove end of CV joint - this seems a bit involved but not *too* bad according to this - http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=119333
RAVE says outer joints circlip and clips must be replaced?
Remove "dynamic damper" (measure position first)
Remove inner gaiter (as outer)

Gearbox Oil:
Remove filler / level plug ONLY (no need to drain) - what size if the filler plug?
Fill gearbox through filler hole with pump until its full and starts coming out the side

Bits I need:
New inner boot / gaiter (includes grease and metal clips)
New inner circlip
Gearbox oil
Pump for gearbox oil

Bits I could buy but probably wont:
New outer boot / gaiter
New pinch bolt
New hub nut
New differential oil seal

Blink · 9th August 2020, 14:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctic

...... Replace the gaiter making sure you pack it out with the new grease, before re-fitting the driveshaft replace to ring on the end of the driveshaft, again making sure you fit it straight.

Refill with the right oil
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2916835118...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

You can also purchase this pump to help doing the refill.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-Tra...MAAOSwd0BV1z2P

Steve: the oil link above doesn't work now - have you got a new one? My gearbox is out of the car at the moment so I might as well fill it with oil before it goes back in. That Draper pump you've mentioned is a neat bit of kit though.

One the subject of packing gaiters with grease - what's the correct of amount of grease to put in?

COLVERT · 9th August 2020, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blink

Steve: the oil link above doesn't work now - have you got a new one? My gearbox is out of the car at the moment so I might as well fill it with oil before it goes back in. That Draper pump you've mentioned is a neat bit of kit though.

One the subject of packing gaiters with grease - what's the correct of amount of grease to put in?

The grease in the exact amount comes with the gaiter.

The gear box is so easy to fill with oil in situ it's hardly worth filling it beforehand and possibly spilling it.--

Just changed the oil in my gear box. Very easy re-fill in situ.

Thin rubber pipe and funnel.

Have recently bought some of those expanding hoses for watering the flowers. However you must avoid roses at all costs. Lol. We didn't and have had several go off bang.--

( the pipes not the roses. )

Not all is lost however as the internal rubber pipe is PERFECT for use in filling gearboxes and other similar things that are hard to get at.

Arctic · 10th August 2020, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blink

Steve: the oil link above doesn't work now - have you got a new one? My gearbox is out of the car at the moment so I might as well fill it with oil before it goes back in. That Draper pump you've mentioned is a neat bit of kit though.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MTF-94-Ma...8AAOSweGpctffx

Quote:

One the subject of packing gaiters with grease - what's the correct of amount of grease to put in?

usually about one and half tomato sauce sachet size mainly round the bearings though

31st July 2016, 17:54	#1
Jakg This is my second home N/A Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Suffolk Posts: 6,867 Thanks: 0 Thanked 397 Times in 302 Posts	Fluid Leak around Passenger side front drive shaft? Replacing the brake fluid and came across this on the front passenger side driveshaft. The fluid looks to be sprayed in a circular pattern perpendicular to the end of the rubber boot. I've had a Google and the closest thing I can find is it being a driveshaft / differential oil seal? It's had three clutches (don't ask) and for the last two the driveshafts were removed without the seals being replaced. If it is the above - is it something easily DIY-able? RAVE makes it looks ok except for the gearbox oil and using a special tool to remove the driveshaft.

31st July 2016, 18:57	#3
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,752 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	The first picture shows what looks suspiciously like a torn boot (just inside/around the small end clip). I suspect you'll find the spit is almost all around. Push the boot inwards to check. TC Last edited by T-Cut; 31st July 2016 at 19:00..

1st August 2016, 21:39	#5
klarzy This is my second home none but not gone Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: March, Cambs Posts: 16,437 Thanks: 894 Thanked 4,247 Times in 3,025 Posts	the build up looks like grease, oil would just look like a damp patch... __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]….All praise Bananaswan….

31st July 2016, 17:58	#2
tallboy Regular poster Rover 75 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Immingham Posts: 61 Thanks: 2 Thanked 18 Times in 15 Posts	Grease looks to have been thrown from the end of the spinning driveshaft boot. Either the clip is loose/lost or the boot has split.