Pinion Cup Seal Install

[Sodbuster]

I'm in the process of doing drive shaft maintenance and getting ready to reassemble everything with new o-rings and seals. Is there a right/wrong way to install the pinion cup seal (#16) ??

I've read where the darn thing will come out over time .... what would cause that ?

Thanks.

[Valkpilot]

Here's a picture of one on the shaft in case you need it for comparison:



The only time I've seen them loose or coming out was when they've been neglected.

I like to pack the groove with grease, press it into place in the pinion cup, then smear a bead of grease around it with my finger.  I haven't had a problem with it coming out.

[Sodbuster]

Thanks for the speedy response !!  Did you put the seal into place when the drive shaft was dry (no grease) ??  And when you say groove I'm assuming you mean the groove around the circumference of the seal ??  Also, is it obvious how far on the shaft the seal goes ??

Thanks for the input !!

[Valkpilot]

Thanks for the speedy response !!  Did you put the seal into place when the drive shaft was dry (no grease) ??  And when you say groove I'm assuming you mean the groove around the circumference of the seal ??  Also, is it obvious how far on the shaft the seal goes ??

Thanks for the input !!

I've never had my seal off the shaft, so I can't really comment on getting it back on.  The shaft itself doesn't get lubed, only the splines at either end.

Yes, the groove I referred to is the groove around the circumference of the seal. 

Once you've put a small amount of grease on the pinion end splines, slip the drive shaft into the pintion cup and push it in as far as it will go.  It should kind of snap or lock in place when it is correctly seated.

Then pack the seal groove with grease and push it into the pinion cup as far as it will go.  Finish up with a smear of grease around the seal from the outside.

[Chrisj CMA]

Different philosophy on that oil seal........I take great pains to keep the seal and the metal mating surface very clean....no grease on the seal, the  groove, or the back side, just clean and dry, and I have 122K miles of perfect pinion splines, never a displaced seal or dry teeth.......just how I have done it.....looking in the Honda book grease is only indicated on the splines themselves.

[Valkpilot]

Different philosophy on that oil seal........I take great pains to keep the seal and the metal mating surface very clean....no grease on the seal, the  groove, or the back side, just clean and dry, and I have 122K miles of perfect pinion splines, never a displaced seal or dry teeth.......just how I have done it.....looking in the Honda book grease is only indicated on the splines themselves.

You're right about the manual being silent on the oil seal.  It doesn't address seating it at all.

I agree with you in that most people over-grease the pinion cup.  The manual only calls for 0.02 ounces on the shaft splines and only 0.08 oz in the pinion cup itself.

I should have noted that putting grease in the groove of the seal and the bead around the outside was my personal preference.  Like you, I've never had a problem with it coming out, but who knows since I'm only halfway to your 122k!

I believe the real key to the longevity of the rear end is frequent maintenance of the entire drive line.

[Ricky-D]

Yep, I would say either way!

Since the seal is on none rotating parts i don't think it really matters.

The slight movement between the two, cup/shaft spline, ought to be close, to non-existent; but enough at times to walk the seal out (eventually). More than likely a result of a going bad universal joint.

Honda maybe designed that in to help when there is a torn u-joint boot. Keep the crap out!

***

[Sodbuster]

I got it all back together ....  I replaced the rear tire and had bought the three o-rings, thrust washer and pinion cup seal over the winter and planned to replace them whether it needed them or not (it has 34k miles on it).

Turns out that the pinion cup seal seats against a shoulder on the shaft. Removed the pinion cup and cleaned it up real good (including the infamous two holes) and greased it up with Belray WP grease, not a lot, just enough to coat the splines. I put a coat of grease in the groove like Valkpilot mentioned, along with a coat on the inside of the cup for the seal. Don't see how it can hurt anything. I used Guarddog 525 on the drive-shaft splines.

ALL the splines looked great with very little wear.

One thing I noticed with the cup was that even thou it had plenty of grease for the splines there was some rust/oxidation between the end of drive-shaft and the nut that holds the cup on, like it was rubbing so that tells me there is some up & down movement going on. I added some grease to that area as well.

Thanks for the reply's