After removing my rear brake drums and back plates on my buggy's rear axle oil gently dripped from the axle. Is this ok or has the seals/gaskets gone in the gearbox end of the axle. Or should all remain dry? Many thanks Nicki and Steve.

Swing axle I assume as IRS has grease not oil.

Pretty sure swing axle is lubed by the gearbox oil,  the smell should tell you.

I guess with the castellated nut not tight oil leakage is expected

Hi Doon001
Brake drum and back plate totally removed, oil dripping from axle at brake drum end. Does that mean that oil should be present inside the axle before removal?

I'm not really familiar with swing axle but my understanding is that the wheel bearing is lubed by gearbox oil via the drive shaft so taking brakes off would let oil through.

Someone who knows better will be along soon to confirm

Good luck
Dave

The bearings are oil fed from the diff and O rings and a seal stop it leaking into the brakes but removing the big nut allows it to leak past the O rings.
Whilst stripped make sure the small hole in the bottom of the seal casing is clear this allows any oil getting past the seal to come out behind the backplate not onto the brakes. Best buy two seal kits for reassembly.

Having changed many of these seal arrangements over the decades the modern day reproduction paper gaskets and the "O" rings are quite feeble compared to what VW intended originally. However CSP variants are now available from Heritage etc. I will not now use any other type. They are far superior in quality. Correct thickness gaskets, not paper rubbish, decent quality o rings.

Snoopy will agree, I am sure, that care is needed when re-assembling the seal kit. It is so easy to nip one or both of the o rings which renders them useless. It`s not a hard job unless the bearing refuses to come off the shaft. Very few people will have a puller but it can be done with two bolts and two screw drivers.   Merry Christmas 

Thank you all, it's explained exactly what Steve thought.
We are sure we will have some questions in the New Year if you don't mind answering them. 👍😜
Merry Christmas to you all! 

  See you in summer 2024 with a buggy

Yes let's hope so! Looking forward to it 👍