87 90 axle leak.

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
landie man

landie man

New Member
Posts
247
Location
Dover Kent
As per the title, my axle is leaking somewhere near the drain plug. is there a gasket or something that can be replaced? or any idea where the leak is coming from, and how easy is it to fix? as I'm filling the axle up quite alot to replace the lost oil.:(
 
The only gasket is where the diff bolts to the axle casing, has the casing corroded through on the pan (very common on older axles)?
 
Litch said:
The only gasket is where the diff bolts to the axle casing, has the casing corroded through on the pan (very common on older axles)?
Click to expand...

I haven't looked at that, I'll check. can you get decent secondhand casings from somewhere if thats happend? or maybe I could weld it up? if so, wheres the best place to try and get one? Thanks for the reply by the way. :)
 
Mine had the breather banjo bolt completely blocked - back pressure was forcing oil out of the prop shaft seal which was running down to the bottom of the diff

From the back looked like it was coming from the drain plug

If the casing has coroded and just has a few pin holes - some guys have managed to drain the fluid, clean the outer casing to remove all grease and used epoxy metal putty to fix. May not be a permanent cure, but might get you a few more months.
 
Last edited:
If the pan has corroded through then replacement pans are available but of course they are a weld-on item. New casings are available (at a cost) or you could just locate a decent seconhand axle and fit that, possibly upgrading to disc's at the same time?
 
Station House said:
Mine had the breather banjo bolt completely blocked - back pressure was forcing oil out of the prop shaft seal which was running down to the bottom of the diff

From the back looked like it was coming from the drain plug

If the casing has coroded and just has a few pin holes - some guys have managed to drain the fluid, clean the outer casing to remove all grease and used epoxy metal putty to fix. May not be a permanent cure, but might get you a few more months.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. How do you get to check this breather bannjo thing? I'll try that first before I start thinking about new axles etc.
 
Litch said:
If the pan has corroded through then replacement pans are available but of course they are a weld-on item. New casings are available (at a cost) or you could just locate a decent seconhand axle and fit that, possibly upgrading to disc's at the same time?
Click to expand...
Oh ok thanks. would a disco axle bolt straight on so to speak, or do I have to do lots of adaptions? if so what would be the best axle to get for my 87 90?
 
Breather Banjo is fitted on top of the axle to the left of the diff as you look from the rear

Wipe around it with a rag to remove any crap - should simply unscrew (sorry forget bolt size, but something like 12 or 14 mm)

Lift it out of the axle - you should then be able to blow through it easily.

The Banjo is actually a 2 part thing - a bolt with a hole through it, and a round sleeve bit that slides over with a nozzle that the breather tube goes onto (sorry - crap description, but you'll know it when you see it!)









The bolt should turn while the round bit stays still to stop the breather tube having to rotate with the bolt. Mine was so coroded that the round bit had seized to the bolt, meaning I had to cut the breather tube to remove the bolt.

Hope that helps
 
Last edited:
Station House said:
Breather Banjo is fitted on top of the axle to the left of the diff as you look from the rear

Wipe around it with a rag to remove any crap - should simply unscrew (sorry forget bolt size, but soem,thing like 12 or 14 mm)

Lift it out of the axle - you should then be able to blow through it easily.

The Banjo is actually a 2 part thing - a bolt with a hole through it, and a round sleeve bit that slides over with a nozzle that the breather tube goes onto (sorry - crap description, but you'll know it when you see it!)









The bolt should turn while the round bit stays still to stop the breather tueb having to rotate with the bolt. Mine was so coroded that the round bit had seized to the bolt, meaning I had to cut the breather tube to remove the bolt.

Hope that helps
Click to expand...
Cant thank you enough! I will check that out for sure. :) Got to say Im impressed with the level of help and advice you get on this forum, makes me proud to be part of the landy scene.
 
if you get stuck give this guy a ring 01673863322,he may have 90 csae or complete disco disc axle to fit at reasonable price ,drum axle cases are different width to disc axle case but complete axles are interchangable
 
jamesmartin said:
if you get stuck give this guy a ring 01673863322,he may have 90 csae or complete disco disc axle to fit at reasonable price ,drum axle cases are different width to disc axle case but complete axles are interchangable
Click to expand...
Right, Thanks again! Is he a landy breaker or something? handy person to know if so, especially as I also need two switches. the one that operates the front washers, and the push button one that does the rear wash. I took my dash apart yesterday thinking it was a broken pipe:rolleyes: they dont make those washer hose pipes easy to check do they! :( the front washers were working the other day, and I recently had a new motor thing put in for it somewhere because the function was poor, so it can only be the switches cant it? How many probs can you get at once with a landy anyway? :lol: But I'll certainly give that guy a ring regarding the axle. Once again many thanks for your help, you guys are great. :)
 
Washers could simply be a fuse (think it's number 4?) or of course wiring.

Start with the simple stuff before pulling the steering column apart:D

Would aslo double check the pump motor (could be earth fault) - if necessary by runnign a +ve feed to it from the battery

In answer to the 'how many probs can you get' question - beleive me, you don't want to know that answer:eek:
 
Ok, regarding the axle, I gave it a good check over, poked it with a screwdriver and all of it including the pan seems very sound. lucky for me It looks like it's been undersealed all it's life. also I checked this 'beather banjo' thingy, (on top of the axle to the left as you are looking at it from the back right?) the only thing that was screwed into the axle was nothing like the one in the pic above.

For a start it was all brass, it had a brass cap on it that you leavered off with a screwdriver, then a nut that unscrewed a brass ferral type thing about an inch long that had a hole in the side of it, and a ball bearing running through it. A later or earlier design maybe, or a later replacement? anyway, It was clean, so I just got rid of the underseal that was surrounding the outside of it and put it back.

I did however notice some oil that when wiped clean with gunk and a rag, seemed to be coming from one of the bottom bolts that bolts the axle on the diff. My final question on this is before I take the bolt out to investigate, and prob make it worse by disterbing it, is do those bolts have some sort of fibre washer or something that could perish thus causing a leak? If so, I'll make sure I get whatever I need to replace before I check it out. I cant seem to get hold of a manual for my 90, my local Halfords is out of stock, and I didn't notice any on ebay.

Oh, regarding the front/rear washers, I managed to get them working by reconnecting a broken wire. but I still cant get my rear wiper to work. is it common for them to sieze up? I've been quoted something like £225 for a new one! :eek: so if it is knackered, I'll be looking to get one secondhand from somewhere, so if someone has a working one for a realistic price, I'd be glad to buy it off you. Many thanks again for any help. :)
 
The breather yu have is an earlier type, with no facility to have breather extension tubes. Change it for a later one.
Please supply pic of leaking bolt.
Does your diff bolt to the front of the axle or does it have a plate across the back?
 
Last edited:
The Mad Hat Man said:
The breather yu have is an earlier type, with no facility to have breather extension tubes. Change it for a later one.
Please supply pic of leaking bolt.
Does your diff bolt to the front of the axle or does it have a plate across the back?
Click to expand...
Oh ok. forgive my ignorance, but if I was to swop it for a later one, where would these tubes run? and it bolts to the front of the axle. I'll give a pic when I get a mo though, thanks so much.
 
is this wot yours look like?

515845.JPG
 
Ah right, so like the first pic shown, and that one, you can connect a plastic tube on it if you want by the looks of it, but on mine you cant. So can I use a dico one, or a later defender one on my 87 axle? will the thread/size be the same?

I haven't had chance to check my landy yet after cleaning my brass 'breather banjo', and nipping up the bolts; I'm hoping thats cured it, if not I'll take that pic as requested above and see if any light can be shed on it if it is still leaking.

While i'm here, I've also noticed the chrome 'swivel balls' leaking on my front wheels. I've noticed 'paddocks' do a swivel ball repair kit consisting of the shims, gaskets, bearings, and grease etc for about £16.00 odd a side. I've never done them before, what are they like to do, anything I should be aware of, or look out for? I dread looking under my chassis, because everytime I do, I find something else needs doing :lol: oh, and are leaking swivels an MOT failier does anyone know?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

hawky666
Water leak from 300tdi
Replies
5
Views
545
Forrest Gump
F
suew
Rear Axle Oil Leak
Replies
6
Views
1K
suew
suew
E
Oil Leak. No surprise.
Replies
5
Views
841
lynall
L
AH-4x4
Help ending my leak - 200TDI
Replies
10
Views
2K
AH-4x4
AH-4x4
Fairhaven
Defender 200 tdi Pulsing white smoke when warm
Replies
19
Views
2K
Fairhaven
Fairhaven
Back
Top