How to replace your transfer box rear oil seal

The first signs of a leaking transfer box rear oil seal (next to the transmission brake) will be a small amount of oil on the ground beneath the vehicle. If the Land Rover has been stood for any length of time, check the gearbox oil level before driving it, as soft ground, grass and gravel might hide the actual amount of oil that has leaked out.

Take a look at the inner chassis rails on each side of the brake drum – oily deposits left here are caused by the leaked oil being thrown out of the drum by centrifugal force as it rotates at high speed. If that is the case, assume at this stage that the transmission brake’s shoes are also covered in oil, even if the handbrake is still working – it probably won’t do for much longer.

The good news is that the seal is easy to replace without special tools. While you have everything dismantled it’s also a good opportunity to paint and protect the components before it comes to re-assembly. Finally, buy the new oil seal from a source that you can trust. Once it’s fitted, you can then be confident that you shouldn’t have to deal with a similar problem again for some time.

Health and safety 

• Access to all the propshaft bolts might be limited, so turning the rear diff might be necessary • Ensure the vehicle can’t roll away or roll over you without a functioning handbrake. • The above applies while the gearbox is in neutral to allow the output shaft flange to turn.

Click on the gallery below for our handy step-by-step guide…