Half shaft seals failing repeatedly Discovery 2

I am trying to tackle a leaky front half shaft/axle seal. I can see all the previous posts about this well known trouble spot. The disco 2 I have had new front seals installed a year or two prior by the previous owner. I disassembled it today and can see the seal looks to be in new condition and I would say it is the exact same item produced at he same factory as the ALLMAKES (made in india) seal I have purchased. Assessing things I am confident I will only be repeating the same flawed solution as the previous owner. As such I am keen to fix it PROPERLY. I am going to try and source NAK seals that I hear from this forum has a tighter fit to the shaft journal and is not made in India. Does anyone know who stocks these seals?

I also am wondering if the shaft journal condition is ok and not overly pitted. You can see from the photo below that the face is quite pitted but the outside diameter portion where the main sprung lip seal is clean. The diameter measures 34.77mm. The Indian seal is around 32mm ID but feels insufficiently tight to me and looks low quality with sloppy moulding.

Additionally, the wheel bearing has slight notchyness, and I feel inclined to replace them. There is a great range of prices from £35 on ebay to £135 OEM from Brookwells. Are the cheap units junk or usually fine?

If I need to replace metal? I will look at the middle price range?? Some have a good warranty on them?

If I need to replace Critical (Life Saving/Engine parts) parts!! Toward the higher price range, from well known suppliers (they don't like their goods in a bad light!!).

Cheap goods!! You get what you paid for!

Kev

Gingerbread said:

I am trying to tackle a leaky front half shaft/axle seal. I can see all the previous posts about this well known trouble spot. The disco 2 I have had new front seals installed a year or two prior by the previous owner. I disassembled it today and can see the seal looks to be in new condition and I would say it is the exact same item produced at he same factory as the ALLMAKES (made in india) seal I have purchased. Assessing things I am confident I will only be repeating the same flawed solution as the previous owner. As such I am keen to fix it PROPERLY. I am going to try and source NAK seals that I hear from this forum has a tighter fit to the shaft journal and is not made in India. Does anyone know who stocks these seals?

I also am wondering if the shaft journal condition is ok and not overly pitted. You can see from the photo below that the face is quite pitted but the outside diameter portion where the main sprung lip seal is clean. The diameter measures 34.77mm. The Indian seal is around 32mm ID but feels insufficiently tight to me and looks low quality with sloppy moulding.

Additionally, the wheel bearing has slight notchyness, and I feel inclined to replace them. There is a great range of prices from £35 on ebay to £135 OEM from Brookwells. Are the cheap units junk or usually fine?

View attachment 322346View attachment 322347View attachment 322348View attachment 322349

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TBH I don't think that measuring the inside diameter of a seal is much use, apart from telling you that it isn't too big!
The spring you can see around the lip of the seal is there to hold the seal tight to the shaft, "but not too much". So you'd expect it to give to accomodate the shaft diameter.
Why not slip it onto the shaft and see how it feels when being spun around the shaft? Too much drag and it'll wear out, not enough and it'll leak.

Measure the ID on the other side of the seal - it should be 36mm.

jamesDiscoTD5 said:

Measure the ID on the other side of the seal - it should be 36mm.

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Its 35.5mm but that ID doesnt come into contact with anything.

Stanleysteamer said:

TBH I don't think that measuring the inside diameter of a seal is much use, apart from telling you that it isn't too big!
The spring you can see around the lip of the seal is there to hold the seal tight to the shaft, "but not too much". So you'd expect it to give to accomodate the shaft diameter.
Why not slip it onto the shaft and see how it feels when being spun around the shaft? Too much drag and it'll wear out, not enough and it'll leak.

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Yes I did try fitting it to the shaft and it felt it was applying too little pressure to seal properly to me. For example it does not compare at all to an OEM main crankshaft seal. THe fact that it felt exactly the same as the seal I pulled out (installed by previous owner within the last two years) tells me it will leak just the same. And judging by the moulding and tooling marks on the seal it is the same Indian manufacturer.....I think I need a decent quality item. Presumably that is the NAK?

Gingerbread said:

Yes I did try fitting it to the shaft and it felt it was applying too little pressure to seal properly to me. For example it does not compare at all to an OEM main crankshaft seal. THe fact that it felt exactly the same as the seal I pulled out (installed by previous owner within the last two years) tells me it will leak just the same. And judging by the moulding and tooling marks on the seal it is the same Indian manufacturer.....I think I need a decent quality item. Presumably that is the NAK?

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I wish I could tell you. I did mine a while back and they were OK but I can't remember who I got the hub and seal from. soz.
I have heard of VW mechs taking the spring off and shortening it a tiny bit when fitting one to somewhere else a mainshaft or summat on an aircooled. But that is being silly.
Just fork out the dosh and get a good one.

Anaconda said:

Front Halfshaft Oil Seal P38 D2 (NAK) FTC4822 Island 4x4 - Specialists in Land Rover and Range Rover Parts and accessories for all models. UK and worldwide mail order.

Front Halfshaft Oil Seal P38 D2 (NAK) FTC4822 Land Rover parts, Land Rover spares, Range Rover parts and accessories for Freelander, Discovery, Defender and Series models. UK and worldwide mail order. Competitive prices.

www.island-4x4.co.uk

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Brilliant. I'll order from Island4x4.
With the hubs does anyone know what the TAY100060G is vs the TAY100060? Price is double!?

Gingerbread said:

Brilliant. I'll order from Island4x4.
With the hubs does anyone know what the TAY100060G is vs the TAY100060? Price is double!?View attachment 322392

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Google both and see what comes up. As far as I remember the ones for the front have a big o-ring seal and a longer abs lead.
Also all the fittings for the front lead and the back one are different. It is possible to use both on either end of the vehicle but it is better to get them "right ended".