[castleview]

Hi, Max

I'm new to the forum. My '01 XL7 has developed the leak in the right side diff oil seal. I've purchased the new oil seal and the driveshaft support bushing. I've also purchased a new cv halfshaft and noticed that the compressed length is about 3/32" longer than a remanufactured cv halfshaft. Because of this increased length, is it necessary to use the support bushing?

Thanks!

 

[Max]

Tough one to visualize. I'd say yes to the bushing, as the slight increase in shaft length won't change the shaft "wobble" potential that the added new bushing supports / corrects, IMO

 

[castleview]

Thanks, Max. I'll use the bushing.

 

[Max]

Hey! While I've got your attention, can you add anything to my travel inquiry post located over here?

http://www.suzuki-forums.com/off-to...s.com/off-topic-lounge/175945-trip-routing-recomendations-colorado-florida.html

 

[castleview]

Sorry, Max. I've been under the weather the last few days and haven't been online or able to work on my XL7 until today.

I've only been the southern route toward FL once and we headed through northern NM on US-87 to Amarillo and I-40 eastbound all the way to Knoxville, TN and then NE on I-81 to my family in the Washington, DC area. Not a bad route but Interstates have a lot of truck traffic. We didn't have time to get off on the side roads much. I live 200 mi SW of the Denver area.

Now that I'm back on the XL7, today I pulled out the cv half shaft. It came out fairly easily. I was fishing out the remnants of the broken circlip with a magnetic tool when I pulled out a round "spring" a little bigger than the diameter of the unsplined portion of the axle. No one talks about this in the repair. What is it and where does it go? It seems to fit perfectly in a groove on the outside of the oil seal but it seemed to be inside. I can't find it in any of the online service manual diagrams.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Max]

Thanks, as the large East / West I-40 portion of that route is what I am contemplating.

Can't put my head around that spring issue. At first I figured a lip-seal spring backer, but that's only an 1/8" or so in diameter. I'll try and research it more unless someone else knows. :mellow:

 

[castleview]

Wow! I just looked at the back of the new oil seal and it has a reinforcing spring attached. It looks just like the old one I fished out. Case solved! Thanks!

 

[Max]

Cool!

Hope the rest goes well.

 

[shelzmike]

May be a dumb question because, of course, almost all the information for Vitara's also can be translated to trackers of the same year. However, I have come across a few differences, mainly underneath but very, very few.

So, is this problem and fix also applicable to a Chevy tracker (2003)? Mine is a selectable 4x4, so not always on and it has been used only rarely over the years - almost exclusively when it is snowing. Probably < 1% of the time. Only pointing that out as it seems the leaks occur in 4x4s that are used way more than I do or are always on.

I do not have any leaks going on; however, the only reason I am asking is because I just changed the left side half shaft due to a torn outer boot. Side note, easiest daggone axle change I have ever had to do. The stupid FSM had me taking apart all kinds of crap, which I did..then I realized that all that I needed to do for that side was take off the tie rod end!

I am getting ready to go check the right side axle and am praying I see no tears as otherwise, nothing needs to be done with it.

However, let's just say I do find a tear and need to replace the axle (cheaper and easier than trying to fix the boot, that is for sure)..will I need the support bushing for the tracker as well, or no?

Heres to hoping I find nothing! Thanks.

EDIT: I take that back - ONCE I got the circlip off, it was the easiest axle swap. I have good circlip pliers, but it kept slipping off just as the diameter was big enough to slide off and it kicked my tail for about an hour I hate to say it.

EDIT 2: Happy day, the shaft looks good on the right side. Boots are all solid. Very tiny amount of play, probably not even enough worth mentioning.

Still curious if the bushing upgrade applies to the Tracker though.

 

[fordem]

Yes it does - and that's regardless of how much the 4WD is used.

On the 99~05 models the freewheel mechanism is internal to the differential so the CV shafts are always connected to the hubs and always turning.

 

[Barry McOchner]

Darn I missed this and just did my seals on my new steel housing swap. I’m not as worried because manual hubs but I would’ve don’t it. Oh well next time im down there.

 

[tuckev]

left side cv seal question

I have the left (drivers) side cv shaft out of my 2003 Chevy 2.0l Tracker. There are no seals like on the right (passenger) side. I'm talking about at the outer end where the cv is against the steering knuckle and wheel bearing. There is a smooth machined flat face (the transition from the big diameter of the cv to the smaller diameter of the axle and spline). But no seals (or machined seal areas) like on the right side.
Has anyone seen this?

 

[Barry McOchner]

There’s no seal on the half shaft like the other side, but it’s sealed with the same lip seal as the right side just on the intermediate shaft.

 

[tuckev]

Seal on intermediate shaft at diff center section- right? But no seal at outer end? I wonder why the difference right side to left??

 

[fordem]

As far as I'm aware the steering knuckle/hub assemblies are symmetrical or mirror images of one another - there should be two seals where the CV axle enters the knuckle, and these should be present on both sides.

 

[tuckev]

That's what I would have thought too. But even the cv shaft end there at the knuckle (left hand side)has no smooth machining for seal contact- very strange.
A new cv is due in the mail Tomorrow- I will try to post pics.
This Tracker has only 54,000 miles on it- I would think that everything is still factory stock?
Perhaps shelzmike will reply- He posted of having his left hand cv out of a 2003 Tracker.

 

[shelzmike]

That's what I would have thought too. But even the cv shaft end there at the knuckle (left hand side)has no smooth machining for seal contact- very strange.
A new cv is due in the mail Tomorrow- I will try to post pics.
This Tracker has only 54,000 miles on it- I would think that everything is still factory stock?
Perhaps shelzmike will reply- He posted of having his left hand cv out of a 2003 Tracker.

Nope, no seals on LH side. The shaft goes through the spindle (note, I believe the spindle DOES have seals in them, but they stay in the spindle when replacing the shaft..and should, otherwise you got other issues, I think) and is held in place by a circlip (with a washer behind it).

Both the old and new shaft were smooth machined like you referred to. In fact, from what I see in the exploded diag. below, it looks like the LH side does not have a seal either in the place you are referring to, unless I am totally misunderstanding what you are referring to.

For the LH side, it is super easy - only have to remove tie rod end and circlip. Remove the 3 bolt connected to the left drive shaft flange (will have to rotate the shaft for each bolt to get clearance). Then just pull the shaft down at the axle flange (closest to the differential) and the axle just slides out. Hope any of that helps.

 

[tuckev]

left side cv seal question and answer

Received Cardone Select left hand cv axle from Rock Auto today. $50usd to my front door. Quality looks great.
CV axle came with wiper seal installed on large diameter where cv axle contacts steering knuckle (after inserting/installing axle stub into steering knuckle)
My 2003 Tracker cv axle had no wiper (it was bare) or seal (seal presses into steering knuckle) when I took it apart!? Have no clue why not.
Was finally able to determine the seal I needed to press into the steering knuckle that works with the wiper/seal installed on cv axle. The number in Timken seal is 710255. It is listed as a 'knuckle seal'. The Timken seal has a cup that takes the lip of the cv axle wiper/seal plus a regular lipped oil seal to complete the sealing.

Cheers

 

[shelzmike]

Received Cardone Select left hand cv axle from Rock Auto today. $50usd to my front door. Quality looks great.
CV axle came with wiper seal installed on large diameter where cv axle contacts steering knuckle (after inserting/installing axle stub into steering knuckle)
My 2003 Tracker cv axle had no wiper (it was bare) or seal (seal presses into steering knuckle) when I took it apart!? Have no clue why not.
Was finally able to determine the seal I needed to press into the steering knuckle that works with the wiper/seal installed on cv axle. The number in Timken seal is 710255. It is listed as a 'knuckle seal'. The Timken seal has a cup that takes the lip of the cv axle wiper/seal plus a regular lipped oil seal to complete the sealing.

Cheers

I am not sure what a wiper seal is to be honest. All I know is is that on my 2003, I saw no seal on either the one I took off or the one I purchased new to go back in it. I honestly didn't look at the back of the knuckle because it all fit well and the FSM didn't mention it at all. Hopefully what I replaced is all good. I suppose it is based on what I saw.