Has anyone ever had a CV axle leak at the output seal sleeve? Not at the output shaft seal surface of the axle but between the axle and the sleeve. It looks like the seal sleeve is pressed onto the axle.

I am on my third seal on my 2006 Mini Cooper and all three have leaked the same when I was done. I had my mechanic neighbor help me put one in this weekend and there was no way the seal got buggered up during the install. As I let it sit for about an hour I could see oil between the sleeve and the axle. I touched around the seal surface to see if there are any signs of oil leaking and I can't find any signs.

I have to come to the conclusion that the leak is between the sleeve and axle. The axle is a new after market axle.

Any info or past experience would be appreciated and helpful. Thanks.

 

Was the axle replaced in the past as I have seen on other cars that the retaining clip can score the inside of the transmission that allows more oil to enter the area by the seal and the seal cannot handle the increased amount.

 

The side I am talking about is the side with the carrier bearing, there is no clip on this side. Once you take the three bolts off the carrier the axle pulls out easily.

Thanks for the response.

 

Same happened to me.
Check out post #7 from THIS thread, for a theory by forum member downshift1 which I think makes the most sense...

After I replaced the leaking axle (a rebuilt from Cardone) with a brand new axle, the leaking stopped.

 

What brand new axle did you use? I have a Heri new aftermarket for a base 2006 manual tranny. Mine looked like seal surface sat in far enough to seal. I had to use the original bearing mount. I had to remove the one that came with the new axle and replace it with the original. I believe the original mount had 028 cast into it and the one that came with the axle had 036 cast into it. I don't know if that means anything or not.

Thanks for the reply.

 

Just a little bit more info after the third seal was installed. I did not drive it. I just filled the tranny up with oil and spun the wheels by hand a few rotations. The next morning, it was dripping off the axle. A big enough drip to not run down the side of the case but drip straight down onto the ground.

 

 

Can I ask what vender did you use to purchase the DSS axle. What are the axle spec's on your mini. Cooper S, base, supercharge, year, ect. Thanks AoxoMoxoA.

 

PM sent...

Car details in my sig.

 

I purchased a DSS right side axle and installed the axle. The leak has stopped. I could not get the Heri axle to stop leaking after two seals. I have to agree with the tread from AoxomoxoA's thread. Thanks for the help AoxomoxoA! My wife's mini is back on the road!!