Damaged drive shaft seal

[PatrickBoyle]

This seal was installed about a month ago with a used (but in good shape) yoke. The U-joint bellow was replaced at the same time and on the first run there was water intrusion due to one of the clamps not being tightened properly. There was also a loss of oil out of the front seal. The drive was pulled and this is what I found. The spring is missing as well. Not sure what would cause damage like this. Is it possible the spring was faulty and snapped, tearing up the seal? The odd thing is, I didn't find the spring anywhere, but did find the missing chunk of rubber in the U-joint bellow.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Damaged drive shaft seal

Who did the repairs before? Someone screwed up,hope it wasn't you....lol could the spring have been ground up/went through the bearing?? I hope not.whats the yolk look like?
Grub

 

[PatrickBoyle]

Re: Damaged drive shaft seal

I installed the seal. It didn't go on like that, I assure you. No apparent damage to the bearings

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Damaged drive shaft seal

Well I cant explain it,mabe the seal was defective,and ya didn't notice it before. Pretty easy to miss looking at the spring.
Grub

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Damaged drive shaft seal

Curious as to what the oil looked like when you drained it. Any metal filings along with the obvious water intrusion? By the way, its a bellows even when its just one (like a fireplace bellows). Bellow is the sound you made when you found the damage.... Just sayin.
Not finding the spring is unfortunately suspect that it wasnt in the seal to start with, although that should have been noticed, not only during the install, but during the follow-up pressure test (done, right?).... I would sure think a lack of spring in the seal would cause it to fail a pressure test.

 

[PatrickBoyle]

Re: Damaged drive shaft seal

I'd like to say I'm sure it had a spring, but I don't recall if I really checked. The drive did pass a pressure test before install, however.