gearbox leak

[A8 Owner]

Hi Mrs A8 Owner here
Just been told by my gearbox has a leak,
Stev thought there might be due to the hot smell we get after a trip out, hence why i had it checked out. Weird thing is we have had this smell since we have owned the car, yet the transmission people who did oil and filter change on it didnt say a thing to me.:tuttut::mad:
It seems at the back of the gearbox, high up theres a leak, poss seal gone. Anyone on here can confirm theres a seal there, or is there somthink else to look for?. Is it big job to do?, I.E lots more money?
Will be ringing transmission people tomorrow to ask why they didnt tell me about this, as it will mean ile havto payout again for oil.
any help greatfull.+++
Thanks
:love:51 plate FL 3.7 sport 5 speed+++
Now fully detailed

[IT]

The final drive seal is a common fault - It drops oil onto the (left I think from memory) cat and when the car is warm, the oil burns off creating the smell.

In fairness to the transmission place, they would have worked on the car coldish I would imagine when they changed the transmission oil, and when cold, the leak from the final drive seal is hard to see.

Its not a common ZF problem, its just that Audi put the cats right under the back of the box, so the rubber seals get heated up and chilled, heated up etc and they eventually dont seal as well.

Good news is that is should be only circa £100 to do, and it wont need your gearbox oil refilling as the final drive seal seals off the rear diff, not the gear change mechanisms, and this area of the box uses different oil, and only about 1.5 liters of it....

[darrenjoe90]

hi just had mine done today. bought parts from audi and got a local garage to do it for 70 quid. also printed the following pages and took it with the parts to the garage.
http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/auto_transmission/transealreplacement.html

[Mkoneman]

so the rear output seal need the same oil as the rear axle diff?

[Conan_the_Librarian]

Straight from the good book....
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=244&stc=1&d=1242145442

[Singh]

Not sure what mine is, but after I have driven her hard I see smoke coming from under the drivers side door! Anyone else had this?

[Mkoneman]

cheers for clearing that up mike ;)

[Conan_the_Librarian]

Not sure what mine is, but after I have driven her hard I see smoke coming from under the drivers side door! Anyone else had this?

Get under the car Singh and if there is a stain on the passengers side Cat then you will have a leaking seal.

[billblank]

I have the smoke as well if spanked, according to my pet mechanic it is NOT the gearbox but somewhere from the rear of the block.

I'm not worried, I just keep checking levels which reminds me, oops.

Bill

[Conan_the_Librarian]

Somewhere at the rear of the block will more likely be camshaft cover seals. Well documented procedure on Audipages in the sticky.

[A8 Owner]

Right Mrs has rang me again not about wipers this time LOL.
her car was booked in to have this seal done. My mate has rang Audi to order this seal they have said when changing seal u also need the rear housing at £137 plus the seal at £18.
why the housing???? and is this right as we r talking Audi dealership??

[Architex_mA8tey]

I think there is an advisory in the audi notes/procedures that says you may have to change the housing when you change the seal, but most people clean the old one and put it back on. The only reason you would need to replace the housing is if it has grooves/marks on it that are so deep that they cant be got out and would therefore not seal well. the prices you have been quoted for each are about right (I think about £135 and £17.75 from memory) and you will also get charged for genuine audi gear oil - 1 litre at £16.09.

[A8 Owner]

Right after another day on the fone, (as im away) so makes it hard to sort things out. Prob is as im not home Mrs A8 is taking car in to mates monday and got to be back on rd by 2pm to make her way back for school run, so worry was if he bought just the seal and it needed this flange bit she would be xxxxxx. So got on to to my mate at audi, he has pulled a few strings so that both parts get delivered . If this flange/housing isnt needed it goes back no charge.+++
So much still to do bfore meet and so little time.
1 alloys to sort out
2 exhaust to mount up and try for v8 loudness LOL
3 decide which ver of exhaust to put on as it has 3 options.
4 new screen fitted again (No5) if the audi sponge arrives, and if it cures the problem.
5 the xbox360 rubber and sponge mounts to make and place.
6 how many dry days we get from now to then LOL

But other than that everythink is on time LOL

[A8 Owner]

Well Mrs A8 has had this seal done today. Mate was glad we got flange/housing as it was different seal to the old one and flange/housing spline was.Is it a upgrade to cure problem?? hence why Audi says when people buy just the seal they keep coming back to order this other bit.?

Ile see if i can get part numbers off him as there be on invoice.
Hes good mate so wouldnt try to rip me off by just saying that. untill i see what the parts look like im telling u blind. all i know is if had just changed the seal it wouldnt of worked as he said both parts were different.
tell u more as i know

[Mkoneman]

Its not a common ZF problem, its just that Audi put the cats right under the back of the box, so the rubber seals get heated up and chilled, heated up etc and they eventually dont seal as well.


i think i might invest in some exhaust heat mat to wrap the top of the cat to keep the heat away from the seal :)

i might wrap a bit of the exhaust too :cool:

[thebluewhale]

i think i might invest in some exhaust heat mat to wrap the top of the cat to keep the heat away from the seal :)

i might wrap a bit of the exhaust too :cool:

Did you do this in the end?

Also, I can't get the work done until Friday but still need the car. Will it last a few days or should it be off the road?

[Mkoneman]

nah i didn't bother in the end, the proper head shield **** is very expensive the seal was like £16 and take about 2-3 hours to do, so my logic is if it last 20k and start leaking again that's 2 years down the line and ill just replace it again

i drove mine for at least a month with it leaking before i got round to doing it and it hadn't lost that much so you (****disclaimer****) should be fine

[guinea]

mine was leaking from that seal a coming off the gearbox so i just had mine done....got the dealer to pay for it...wait for it..the garage charged the dealer ..£447.00 to change this seal...oh i laughed..:ROFL:

[thebluewhale]

:ROFL:

I've just ordered the bits from Audi including a new gasket and new bolts for £40. The gear oil was £20.

Plus the Audipages guide and 2 hours labour probably £70.

+++

[Singh]

Ben just told me the A8 hasn't got this dreaded leak! :D
Chuffed, anyone else not got it? I know the S8 has, its going in for replacement now!

[Architex_mA8tey]

I did mine about 2 months ago now, just the seal and the oil. was prepared to change the housing but it didnt need it and its been fine since (famous last words lol)

[Waynester2]

Mine was fine until I had the transmission fluid changed, then I got the distinctive smell that I think Ian described of the fluid dripping onto the exhaust.
Anyway cost me £260+vat at a local auto box specialist, for new gasket and a topup, so I'm feeling a bit ripped off now after seeing what you guys have paid. He did quote me £2500 + vat for reconditioning the box as well when/if it does finally pop.

Wayne

[entwisi]

I paid 2400 inc VAT for my complete rebuild.

[Singh]

Ben just changed my gearbox seal an topped up oil. All Audi OEM parts and labour..£80!!

[Night Train]

My seal's been leaking for about 9 months now, Its on order at the main dealer who are going to charge £150 for the complete job.

They were going to do it when I had it serviced last week (£270) but had the wrong seal.

[ainarssems]

Anybody know dimensions of original seal?

[ainarssems]

Well I bought a new seal from dealers @ £14.14, part number 018 409 399 B, ZF part number 0734 319 588. Its a directional double lip seal with dimensions 40x52x7mm. Will see if it fits without changing flange or housing or whatever is supposed to be changed at the same time. If not then will measure old seal and order viton seal by dimensions to replace old one.

[Goran]

quattroworld is your friend. There is a new re-designed output spline to take the new seal with a lip.

http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/msgs/32544.phtml

someone fitted a new lip seal onto the old output spline shaft in mine, needless to say it started leaking again after less than 2 years.

[ainarssems]

quattroworld is your friend. There is a new re-designed output spline to take the new seal with a lip.

http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/msgs/32544.phtml

someone fitted a new lip seal onto the old output spline shaft in mine, needless to say it started leaking again after less than 2 years.

At those prices for flange and covert I would rather replace seal every 2 years or use old style seal from third party supplier. After all original seal has lasted 15 years and 135k

[ainarssems]

Attacked the seal today looking to get it replaced before going to AITP and discovered that propshaft front CV joint gaitor is split. Dealers do not sell these separate, only complete propshafts at £1.2k. I don't fancy paying £100 for 15 years old second hand propshaft either so will go to local(ish) propshaft manufacturing/repair/modification company(30miles) and see if they gaitor in right size for sale.

Car is in bits and I do not know if I will put it together before AITP.

[47p2]

You should be able to guy one of the stretchy boots to fit

[ainarssems]

You should be able to guy one of the stretchy boots to fit

It's a metal flange with not much rubber, I suppose I could fit one of those stretchy boots on the flange but that's not ideal.

Anyway bad news are that I broke CV joint trying to pull it off propshaft because it was cooked on by burned grease due to overheating as it have been running half dry. Well it probably needed replacing anyway after running half dry and overheating. Good news is that I got it off at the end and I contacted propshaft company abouyt CV joint and boot and they said they probably don't have one in stock but should be able to get them for me and told to come in with old one to make sure they get right stuff for me.

I was on my way to them today but turned back half way due to traffic as I was not going to make it before closing time so can't fix it before next week and make it to AITP.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=4198&stc=1&d=1344618237

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=4199&stc=1&d=1344618237

[ainarssems]

CV joint is made by GKN LOBRO, it is 100mm outer diameter, 32 mm wide and with 25 splines. They are used on several older cars mostly as inner driveshaft joints. GKN part number 21561 and can be had for around £40-50 mark. There are also lightweight and easymotion versions available at a higher price.
Generic aftermarket item with 2 year warranty start at £17.50. The boot is a bit harder to find as most are bigger diameter for driveshafts so small fast boots start around £23

Here are links for CV joints:
http://www.raceparts.co.uk/products/drive_train.asp?section=GKN+CV+Joints
and boots
http://www.raceparts.co.uk/products/drive_train.asp?section=GKN+CV+Boots

I am still waiting for price from my local supplier as they do not have item in stock and are waiting for their supplier on price but it is probably going to be more so might as well just buy them from the links above.

[ainarssems]

New CV joint and boot have arrived

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=4337&stc=1&d=1345138069