Spindle/hub parts question...

[motogman]

In the build up of the wheel end there is an oring (#28 on parts figure 999 701 084 50) that fits over the spindle between the strut and the spacer (#29 901 341 623 00).

What is the purose of this oring? Just keeping water/moisture from seeping under the spacer and rusting ring to spindle etc.?

[Craig_D]

That's a good question..

The only answer I have is that someone far wiser than me figured out it should be there.

Of course, these cars are so stoutly engineered that apparently they can run without that spacer at all. ...for a while at least.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Its a grease seal.

It keeps hot, liquified grease inside the hub when the whole assembly is at operating temperatures and off the brake rotors.

[Craig_D]

Originally Posted by Steve@Rennsport

Its a grease seal.

It keeps hot, liquified grease inside the hub when the whole assembly is at operating temperatures and off the brake rotors.

Ahh good answer. Apparently I ran for the past few years on a hub with no spacer, much less no rubber seal! The bearing was beyond shot, but I'm surprised it didn't seize up..

[motogman]

Thanks Steve@Rennsport... that makes sense.

I guess it might also keep water out but likely the hot grease seepage would be a more frequent and potentially disastrous problem if it happened while running hard and you lost significant braking.