Why is gear oil coming out of my axles?

Discuss VW transaxles and transmissions. Gearheads wanted!
cfeadct

Why is gear oil coming out of my axles?

Post by cfeadct »

Hello,
I hope someone will be able to help with this. Several months ago my grandfather gave me his '67 Beetle that has been sitting in his garage not driven (not even turned over) for 11 years. I've been slowly rebuilding the engine, which I've got just about finished now.
I also, however, decided to buy a rebuilt transmission since the other one had so many miles on it--237k. I thought this was about finished as well, but last weekend when I was getting ready to mount it, I filled the transmission with gear oil that promptly began flowing out of the ends of the axles and all over the floor of my garage. I took the four screws off the pieces of metal that fit onto the spring plates and took it to a mechanic who works at a used tool store near my house. He said I needed new seals, so I went off to VW and bought new seals (and O-rings, and gaskets) and took it to the mechanic who pressed the seals into the pieces of metal that fit over the bearings and onto the spring plate. I torqued all the screws down to 36 lbs, which is what the John Muir book says to do, and I poured more gear oil into the the transmission, and as soon as the transmission body was higher than the axles, the oil started pouring out again.
I took apart the pieces again, but I don't see how the oil is getting through. The seals are seated properly and are in is as far as they can go. All of the other parts fit snugly together inside the housing with the four screw holes. I have the large O-ring that sits right inside the outer ring, the small O-ring fits right over the end of the axle and snugs against the inner part of the bearing housing. I don't get it.
If anybody knows what going on or has experienced something similar before I would really appreciate the help.
Sincerely,
Cfeadct
Guest

Post by Guest »

Have you installed the brake drum yet?If not oil will come out.The drum when torqued pushes up against the thick spacer and seals everything up.
wchiro
Posts: 390
Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2002 1:01 am

Post by wchiro »

Do you have the spacer that fits on the axle? This goes on the axle before the brake drum.


Aloha from Hawaii,
Wayne 8)
Guest

Post by Guest »

Thanks for the help to both of you. I just got the transmission bolted in this evening and funny, now that the spacer and drums are on, the oil's not leaking. Thanks again.
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