Triumph Repair: spitfire rear hub seals, shaft david, needle bearings

Question
Rebuilding spitfire rear half shafts...everything apart no problem, cleaned up and all ready to go back together. PO had at some time replaced seals/bearings....inner seals in hubs are orientated different...one of them is backwards!

Haynes manual says fit inner seal to hub with seal lip trailing...does this mean lip is towards the uj end, so it is trailing when you push it into the hub or is lip towards the center of the hub so it will be trailing when you slide it on the shaft ?


Answer
David,

According to the factory manual the seal is pressed into the trunnion with the lips trailing... ie, towards the u-joint.  In a way it makes sense, it leaves more room for grease in the needle bearings.

On the flip side, you need to make sure the axle shaft is clean and smooth or there's a chance you'll snag the seal.


Cheers,

Jim