Hi guys,

I am a bit frustrated now. I have a fully rebuild Escort RS Turbo S2 gearbox , and both driveshaft oil seals are leaking a little bit. I allready changed them twice now. I made sure not to damage them when inserting the driveshafts. I also used a special tool to mount them to the correct depth. I don't know what's wrong. When i grab hold of the CV's when the car is off it's wheels, I noticed that the long shaft has a in/out movement of 3mm into the box. up/down of 1-2mm. The short shaft has 1-2mm in/out of the box. and 1-2mm up/down. When I move 1 shaft, the other sits still, so that should rule out the diff bearings? (which have also been replaced by the way). I used new snaprings on the driveshaft ends. Could there be wear on the splines of the shaft/diff? Would a new shaft or CV solve this?

Please help...it is driving me nuts.

 

Can you get hold of two different shafts and try them instead ,also have you different seals ,are they genuine ones ?

 

Hi
I got genuine Ford seals from the dealer. Also the dealer has a set of new mk3 shafts. I assume they are the same, haven't got the ABS on it anyway... I could buy them and try....but they are expensive.....so want to be sure

 

I'm not a gearbox expert but I've seen them leak when the diff bearings are ruined. Who rebuilt it? I'd be taking it back to them and having the diff out

 

I have to ask, as ive seen it a few times before, have the old seals been removed completely? Ive seen cases where the metal outter shell has been left in the casing which means when the new seals fit, they dont actually sit where they should.
But yer otherwise if everything has been done properly it can only really be diff bearings

 

Yes. The seals have been completely removed. They are put back in using a ford special tool for the correct depth. Diff bearings are new. I was present during the rebuild. The diff itself does not move! It's the shafts that move independantly from each other inside the diff.

 

May sound daft but on mine I had box rebuilt and new shafts and had a leak. They had painted too far up the shafts so it was a painted surface where the seals met the shaft. The rough surface allowing it to weep through. Just gave it a rub down and all good. Just a thought

 

Maybe the diff itself is screwed up then, don't remember mine being able to move at all. A seal cant work if the thing it's sealing around can wobble.

 

Thanks mate, surfaces are clean.

 

I am worried about that.....hoping it could be the shafts, because they are much easier to replace...

Does anyone know if mk3 and mk4 driveshafts are identical? Apart from the ABS teeth of course .

 

yes the driveshafts are the same
the seals locate on the diameter of the inner cv,splines wont affect it
it can realistically be a few things
bearing housing too big
bearing diameter too small on the cv but as you have the same problem on the other side i doubt it
seals wrong size
seals not put in square

 

Thanks for the reply's guys. How deep should the seal sit into the gearbox? 5mm?
Does anyone know If and how much play a CV should have on the gearbox? I can imagine that a very small amount of play should be there....

Still havent solved the problem....it is driving me crazy

 

Have you measured the shafts OD diameter and compared to the ID of the seals?

 

Hi guys.
Update: the CV joint was worn on the diff face, got a new one, and problem is solved!

 

Ah great news mate!

 

Finally rebuilding mine and have no idea (been a long time) how the driveshaft seals should sit in the gearbox? Talk of a special tool suggests it's not flush.
Any help appreciated.

 

Just tap them in gently (rubber mallet). You can usually see where the old ones sat as they leave a mark. If not they sit a few mm in from the face.
Definitely no need for a special tool