Diff seals & gearbox seals

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eire30
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Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:57 pm

Hi Folks

Looking for advice on which seals I need to replace...

I have an 86 325 (South African) with a factory LSD (not sure what ratio etc) and I noticed the seals on either side (leading to the driveshafts - output seals I think?) are weeping slightly. Any idea how to find out the part number so that I order the right replacements? I.e. - are they different for all the different e30 diffs?

Also, there seems to be a more significant leak/weep from the rear of the gearbox where it joins the propshaft - again, I presume this is also a perished seal but not sure what it's called and woud appreciate if one of the experts here could let me know what I need to order to replace and fix the leak?

Thanks in advance
Rich
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E30SPORTMAD
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Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:40 am

Take the seal out without damaging it to much and take it to any local seal guy and they can match it up with the right size and if not they can order in the right seal at half the price of BMW :D
Kieran_n22
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Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:27 am

You can take seal out and put tiger seal around it and leave it. And it can seal it believe it or not. Or there should be a part number on the seal maybe?
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Brianmoooore
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Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:14 am

I take one night off, and come pack to find replies like this on here! This is a BMW forum, not scrapyarddodgersownedby pennilesslosers.com!
Diff. output shaft seals: http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/2 ... on_gasket/
Drive flanges just lever out, and snap back in. Changing the input shaft seal on the diff. is a much more complex procedure, and theoretically can't be done without specialist knowledge and equipment, although there are ways in practice.
Gearbox seal is here: http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/2 ... ing_parts/
Note that most cases of the rear seal leaking are actually #17 leaking, not #13. The oil runs down onto the top of the output shaft, then around it, looking exactly like #13 is leaking.
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eire30
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Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:14 pm

Cheers Brian, that's exactly what I was looking for! (no offence intended Kieran!)

I will be fitting the full stainless system and btb manifold I bought from Paul (bigdoe) over Xmas so will be doing these jobs at the same time.

Slowly but surely getting there & the £££s quickly adding up! 'Resto write up' to follow in coming weeks (likely months!)

Cheers
Rich
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Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:15 am

lol :)
If it ain't broke..
Fix it till it is :)
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