Output shaft oil seal
 

So I've been battling some clunking issues lately and have gotten to the half-shafts as my last possiblity. Got some low mileage good condition ones to put in. After taking them out the mounting cap or whatever that the axle mounts to on the differential, that goes inside the differential, had a fairly good amount of play in and out of the differential.

Looking in the FSM it says that the output shaft oil seal is inside this mounting bracket, cap, or whatever you want to call it. If the oil seal is cracked or worn would this cause the play? Or what would cause such back play in/out of the differential? I didn't think it was supposed to be able to move in and out at all, or at least not this much, and after putting in the known good half-shafts the clunking remained.


Pics for reference of what I'm talking about.

http://home.comcast.net/~rx7pics/fsm1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~rx7pics/fsm2.jpg



The thing circled is obviously what I'm talking about. That is the part, output shaft, that goes into the differential. It moves in and out of the differential a fairly large amount and my main question is what would cause this. I was thinking the output shaft oil seal if worn/cracked might, but any other ideas? Ideas or help appreciated, thanks in advance.

Bump

No. Oil seals never support load. That's the bearing's job.

Break open the differential and take a look... the excessive play you describe is not normal.

Wonderful....

Sorry for the bad news...

Can I offer you a kitten? Kittens make everyone happy again; they bounce when you drop them.

My mom's alergic to cats, otherwise I'd already have one :(

So basically I have to open up the diff and rebuild part of it? Or just replace the bearings? Is this a very hard job once the diff is out? I'm definitely not looking forward to dropping the differential. How long of a job is it?

Been doing some searching and I'm not finding any parts that are specifically called "bearings" for inside the differential, where am I supposed to get this? Or is it called something else? I guess Mazda dealership parts will be my best option right now, but they are morons and I need to be able to give them the exact name (at least at the one near me). So it is just called the "bearing" for the differential?

Back form the grave! Did you ever get this fixed?

No, sold the diff after I parted out the car. Person took it apart and stuff was shot inside. It needed a rebuild.

thanks