Changing IRD drive shaft oil seal

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joe27979

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,354
Location
west Norfolk
Im about to hit this tonight as my off side drive shaft seal is leaking on the IRD.
I have a new genuine seal, seal remover, wood to drift new seal home, a 4ft 600Nm torque wrench and some fluid to top the IRD back up again. As there is no sticky I'll try to write up a bit of a tutorial throughout.

I'll be doing it as per Rave (Driveshaft nut off etc) unless anyone can advise on a different way before I get stuck in?
:p
 
no if you must use something make sure its setting like loctite etc ,its worth holding garter spring on inside of seal with grease or vaseline ,just a matter of releasing hub either by bottom ball joint or top 2 leg bolts so you can pull hub of shaft ,you dont need to disturb brakes , soft metal drift to knock shaft through hub, if doing botton ball joint use chisel or similar as wedge to ease removal of joint
 
Hi did mine easy job ....... jack car up @ front....then undo bottom all joint and push wishbone down so it releases bottom of macpherson. (if this nut is real tight and rotates ball joint...put jack under ball joint and put some pressure on it - it will create just enough friction to allow nut to come off)Undo tie bar to roll bar .... put alan key in head to stop it rotating..... bingo you should be able to grab hold of strut and with a swift yank pull out shaft. Oil seal just prizes out...easy. Hope this helps. (Dont follow Haynes!!!!)
 
ps you must support drive shaft dot let it flop down + empty IRD of oil. Be carefull of brake hose you may need to release clamp to allow more free play.... It's not rocket science....
 
Thanks for the addittional tips!
Im reading a lot of scare stories regarding ABS sensor being damaged....so im in two minds as to either release ball joint and tie bar as you suggest or follow rave down the pulling hub off drive shaft route...
I have 900ml of fluid - should be enough as the unit shouldnt fully drain should it?!
 
chickened out tonight :p
Put my new GKN propshaft bearings on instead - fook was one end a bugger to get onto the splines again even after filing and sanding the grooves out!
Hopefully start seal tomorrow, if im right from the helpful chaps on here so far it is a case of:
Park car with brake on, jack up front O/S wheel
Remove wheel and tap out the nut stake tab
Lower wheel back on and undo/crack drive shaft nut with long bar
Rise front O/S up again, remove wheel and driveshaft nut
Remove either lower ball joint or two suspension/hub bolts
Use a drift to tap driveshaft through hub/pulling hub away (mind hoses and sensor)
Support drive shaft and use a pry bar to pull past circlp tension in IRD
Let a bit of oil drip in your pan
Use seal removal tol to get out old driveshaft seal
Clean IRD, smear new seal in oil and a bit of grease to hold spring in place
Tap in place squarely and siftly using a hammer on a block of wood
Clean driveshaft and push hoe until circlip clicks
Refit the rest in reverse...

Kapeesh?
 
Hi don't worry - just do bottom ball joint ..... release roll bar links and loosen brake pipe.....bingo. Undo bottom ball joint nut - remove then use a crow bar to lever down on exposed stud .... it will release....mine truck is 10years old and it I managed it.
Don't think about it too much as Nike say ... 'just do it'
 
well I did it, pics to follow..ball joint and drop link came off ok. shaft was a bitch to get out, old seal popped out easy-new seal went in ok..bit tight getting something in there to knock it home, ended up pushing in square with hands then a 3ft long wooden pole to drift it in..I think it's in as far as it goes as the rubber splayed out the sides between IRD face and new seals..I'm paranoid the new seal will fall out though
 
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