So, I thought that I had the LS's final drive leaking problems resolved, as it didn't seem to leave any oil mess anywhere along the whole 2100 mile trip to the BMW MOA rally and back last month, but today, I find the familiar sheen of final drive oil covering one of the wheel 'spokes' and onto the tire. Aaaaah!
This time I removed the rear brake actuating shaft and discovered:
1. The tattered remains of the felt washer/seal under the brake arm is really in sad shape.
2. The shaft has only (2) rather sad looking O-rings/seals on it, though there are indeed machined grooved for at least 4. OK, so I can easily deal with this.
3. However, I find that inside the spline "cup", a slurry of gear oil and Moly 60 paste, as though the gear oil is leaking not from arond the outside of the spline gear, but rather from inside, where the axle passes through. I am wondering if the last time I put the rear wheel on, whether I got the "tophat" sleeves/bushings back in on the proper sides (though the wheel appeared to fit fine) and inadvertently damaged the seal round the axle shaft.
My mind is fuzzy these days, anyone with an LS rear wheel off (or pics of one) - can you please check that the "tophat" bushings on your wheel sit like mine do (left side is flush to outer bearing surface, drive side extends outward at least 3-4mm as in the pics linked here
<insert link here>
I haven't seen a final drive leak in this location, but that doesn't mean that it cannot! Now have to figure out what parts to get at Max's this week....
..hmmm, cannot get the pics to upload on the coppermine gallery at the moment - will try again later!
