Diff oil seals - which are best?

[Arbman Al]

Evening all,

I have my diff out (well complete rear end actually!) and will be changing the oil seals.

I bought some from LD a while ago in readiness, and have since been reading about the leather one from Chris Witor. Are the neoprene ones from LD ok to use, or will I be changing it again in a year?

Cheers...Al

[Bob Heritage]

Hi Al, The neoprene ones are fine, I have them in mine. The original ones were leather and they are OK if the car is in regular use, if not they dry out and this causes the leak.

Bob

[staggering]

Al,
I agree with Bob + when I did mine the front one was quite a tight fit, so use either a large socket the same size as the new seal and/or old bearing to equalise the pressure on / around the new seal as you drift / press it in to ensure it goes in square

Cheers
Ian

[jakesmig]

Al,
If there is any appreciable wear on the shaft try using a ' Speedi-Sleeve® shaft repair kits ' to improve the seal. They are easy to use and you are bound to have a local stockist. Try Googling speedie sleeve or shaft repair kit and you should locate a supplier. They make a knacked shaft like new.
No thoughts either way on the type of seal to use, never used a leather one.
John

[Arbman Al]

Ok, cheers guys, some good advice there

Al

[StagnJag]

I replaced a rubber seal that didn't leak when I rebuilt my diff with a leather one that now leaks like a sieve. I have just ordered another rubber one and will be going through the hassle of replacing it very soon. Personally I wouldn't buy another leather seal.

Rgds

Dave

[ChasR]

I know the Saloon (2000/2500) boys reckon that the new rubber ones are the best (they look very similar to most modern driveshaft and crank seals). I also know the two Triumph Specialists near me use the rubber items with one of them saying the modern leather seals are not much cop.

[elvimto]

Al,
if you can use a double lip seal on the quill shaft they are available at most bearing suppliers I fitted one on mine and polished up the shaft no leaks and easier to install and remove.

cheers Stuart

[dasadrew]

I'm lost on this thread now. I had bought a "normal" seal from Rimmers then, a couple of years ago, there were posts mentioning the hard-to-find original leather type etc., so I got (and fitted) one from Chris Witor and was well chuffed. On looking at the "normal" one I had bought, the seal looked a bit flimsy and I couldn't make out a well known manufacturer's name on it, so I was happy that I had gone the leather route.

Now I read here about:

a) Neoprene Seals
b) Rubber Seals
c) The NEW Rubber Seals

About the only seals we haven't mentioned are circus and Navy ones!

Leather Seals seem to have become persona non grata.

So, as I have the chance to change the seal from leather now (no oil in diff yet), can someone explain what are the differences between a) b) and c) ?

Drew

[dasadrew]

Al,
if you can use a double lip seal on the quill shaft they are available at most bearing suppliers I fitted one on mine and polished up the shaft no leaks and easier to install and remove.

cheers Stuart

Have you got a part number for the one you bought Stuart?

[Klaus Schlueter]

Drew, I have installed an oilseal from Tony Hart. No leackage. My spare seal indicates "NTK 1397", "SC", 268, 200, 50. When I googled NTK 1397 I found the following link:

http://www.rubberpro.net/ProductOilSeals.html

If you use the search function of this page and use the product no 1397 you get the data (type SC, NBR etc.)

[nib]

I fitted the leather type seal and so far so good after 3 years,I soaked it in oil overnight prior to fitting it.
At the time I was told that the rubber seal would stop the leaks but would not last as long as the leather type seal but the leather type seal may drip from time to time(not to the extreme that Dave seems like he's experencing).At the time I was having issues with non-sealing rear crank oil seals which prompted me to go down the leather type seal route.

[dasadrew]

Thanks. That's good news - I won't bother changing my new leather seal then. I soaked it also, also Chris Witor says it's not necessary. Is your Stag driven regularly or does it have lay-up periods?

[nib]

I would say there are periods of six weeks max where I don't drive it.
I find Chris Witor a good person to deal with,anything I bought off him which includes a diff and a petrol tank have been good.Im not sure then who told me to soak the seal but I remember at the time reading or hearing you should do and all seems good at the moment.(it will probably start dripping now I said that)

[elvimto]

Drew,
I am at work right now I will post it later,

cheers Stuart