Was my CV axle seal in backward?

[leapdragon]

Hi all,


Replacing axle and leaky seal, driver's side front 2002 XC70.

After getting both into place and taking a test drive, I'm still leaking. Part I'm using is: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... al-6843112

Here's the thing—after reading around the web a bit, everyone asserts that the garter spring should face inward, toward the fluid. Yet the seal I removed, which predates my purchase of the vehicle a decade ago, clearly had the rubber and spring side facing outward. Hunting through videos about this job, I see a mix of metal facing outward and rubber facing outward.

Sorry if this was a dumb question, but which direction is actually correct? Was the seal in this car backward all this time, and is my installing it with rubber-and-spring outward the reason for the continued leak after replacement? or am I just bad at installing seals well?

I'm going to buy another and try again, but I feel like getting the direction correct is probably important.

[abscate]

It sounds like seal was in backwards but it should seal either way.

[cn90]

Garter spring inward.
Corteco is good mfg.

I posted info on how to make installation tool out of wood in this forum. The tool allows the seal to be at correct depth.

Use red tacky grease on garter spring during installation to avoid it from coming loose from the hammering (mine came loose later on, pic in forum).

[leapdragon]

Hi all,


Finally got these in and got an afternoon to pull the leaking seal out and try again.

This time put in with metal ring facing outward, garter spring inward. Two things:

- Was so much easier to install nicely with metal ring facing outward
- No more leaks

Thanks to everyone who answered above!

[cn90]

During installation, always use a tiny bit of red tacky grease on the garter spring to help hold it in place.

I posted photo of my axle seal (Corteco) that was ok initially after installation but leaked 2 yrs later. It turned out that the garter spring already came off and lied by itself inside the output shaft when it was installed.

YouTube has a video (by a Mercedes mechanic) showing the reason why ppl should use red tacky grease on garter spring during installation.

[scot850]

I was always told that the spring should face towards the fluid you are trying to keep in.

Neil.

[cn90]

It is more than garter spring facing the fluid...outside of the garter spring, there is a dust seal lip too.

[erikv11]

I was always told that the spring should face towards the fluid you are trying to keep in.

Neil.

Yes, this is the simple (correct) thing to remember.