Freelander 1 IRD Right hand Drive Shaft Seal Leaking

Not REALLY a question for help, but more of a open discussion starter if anything.
If you have followed any of my posts, you will know that I have rebuilt a freelander that my father left me before he passed away last year.
when I said rebuilt....
- New Zero Miles Engine
- New / Zero Miles Gearbox
- brand new front suspension - springs, shockers, ARB, wishbones, drop links.
- New AirCon Pipes
- New cooling pipes
- EGR Delete
- Silicone Vacuum Hoses
- New Brakes all around
- new GKN VCU Recon unit
- New Clutch
- New Master and Slave Cylinder (LUK Slave)
My post - is this...
I also fitted a new OSF Driveshaft one of those Br17p4rt ones.
now... the drive shaft seal is leaking - I have a new genuine seal which I will fit this weekend.
queries or points to this post for discussion / opinions.
Have I dropped a clanger by buying this new driveshaft?
at 107000 miles, IS the IRD Driveshaft seal expected to have gone, or is it due to the driveshaft?
I mention the driveshaft because I wondered if there was a common problem with this fitting within the seal?
anyway... for £10 the new seal is going in whether or not it's caused by the driveshaft.

A few things spring to mind.
Was the drive shaft fully inserted into the IRD far enough for the C clip to latch?
Was the seal damage while the shaft was being replaced?
Has the IRD output bearing started to collapse?
Is the cheap drive shaft snagging internally under load, twisting the shaft in the bearing? (Happens with non GKN shafts)

Or is it the fact you put a new shaft in an old seal?

New shaft... old seal..... was carefully fitted at the time of the engine and box refit.... hopefully the IRD Diff bearings are not collapsing.... yes the Inner CV Clip went in fully and engaged.... it was a bitch to try and pull back out too.. (usual test for me to be honest.... if it pulls out easily, then it isn't engaged properly!!!
I'm also getting the infamous knock on the right hand side when pulling away, but hoping.... YES HOPING... this is the suspension top bush, as the sound appears to be from the top.... the missus drives this... and hasn't told me what it's like...... even the flaming gear lever is suffering from the usual SLOP!!
Anyway... I really appreciate your replies.... even if I don't like the sound of a boogard IRD @Nodge68

xpuser8334 said:

New shaft... old seal..... was carefully fitted at the time of the engine and box refit.... hopefully the IRD Diff bearings are not collapsing.... yes the Inner CV Clip went in fully and engaged.... it was a bitch to try and pull back out too.. (usual test for me to be honest.... if it pulls out easily, then it isn't engaged properly!!!
I'm also getting the infamous knock on the right hand side when pulling away, but hoping.... YES HOPING... this is the suspension top bush, as the sound appears to be from the top.... the missus drives this... and hasn't told me what it's like...... even the flaming gear lever is suffering from the usual SLOP!!
Anyway... I really appreciate your replies.... even if I don't like the sound of a boogard IRD @Nodge68

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I would drop the IRD ASAP and replace the output bearing and seal for the R/H D/S (UK) shaft!.
It is fairly easy as you only need to remove the end cover.
This bearing fails and is a common cause of catastrophic ird failure, The seal leaking is usually a first sign. - There is not (AFAIK) 'infamous knock' on the RHS when pulling away !... the IRD bearing usually fails because of a CV inner failure or issue with the RN drive shaft.

DO NOT risk it - trying to diagnose issues like this on a forum are fraught with issues... this so called 'infamous RH knock ??? - where do you get that from ???

Pull the IRD and check it - the output bearings - then seal ! are easy to replace ! - the RH drive shaft - if in any doubt - simply replace the whole unit.
Joe

Had a good day on it today...
Replaced fuel injectors..
Looked at the seal.. there is a small amount of up and down movement on the inner cv going into the IRD. About 2 to 3 mm maximum. The infamous knock... I've worked on aboutique 4 of these where the suspension top or shocker knocks a little... although.... the knock I had was sorted by unfastened the rear wishbone nut and re tightening it... - my god... did my phone autocorrect the word about for aboutique???? Geeze!!!)
Also had to fasten the expansion tank back to the top of the shocker as the plastic rivet has broken...

Anyone any ideas what the bearing part number is that I should be looking for? - or... as I haven't stripped an IRD (only fitted the cooler) - should I consider buying another unit...
I'm not scared of taking on a job I haven't done before, and if I have read it correctly, its not too difficult.....
hmmm..

When my IRD needed some "love", I got a bearing kit from these people...

http://www.onestopgearboxshop.com/

I got the IRD off and split it - but balked at the task of pulling and pushing all the bearings and getting it right. So I gave the unit and kit to a 'diff shop' here who did the job and I installed it back in the car.

Although the kit included some seals, the diff shop said there were a couple missing that they sourced and also they sourced and installed replacement shims. The IRD has though been working fine for about 3 years now.

I can get the kit cheap enough - about £83.00 for the kit from the site you mention....now all I need is a gearbox chappie to do the job for me.... - not something I would like to do myself to be honest.... i bet its only an hour or two in labor rates too!

xpuser8334 said:

I can get the kit cheap enough - about £83.00 for the kit from the site you mention....now all I need is a gearbox chappie to do the job for me.... - not something I would like to do myself to be honest.... i bet its only an hour or two in labor rates too!

Click to expand...

I found here that a lot of workshops wouldn't do the job - they wanted to strip the IRD, examine it, procure parts themselves etc.

The outfit that did the job actually charged like wounded bulls! I think the bill was about £350 and they were going to charge a huge amount extra for "racing grade" oil and were quite offended when I said I'd sourced my own already. However, they did do a good knowledgeable job and sorted all the other bits as mentioned that even if I could have pushed/pulled the bearings, I might have got completely confused by or cocked up!

I could always buy an eBay "Special" - buy the kit and rebuild one myself - if I'm confident - I can fit it... that way I have another to rebuild and either sell or keep as a spare unit!