The rear CV seal on a BMW prop shaft is normally not serviceable. I found a replacement seal — BMW part 11553453300 — and ordered a few from Shem Group in Ukraine.
Removing the old seal
The old seal is press-clamped onto the shaft. I pick every bit of the old rubber out of the lip before installing the new one. Clean the lip thoroughly, then clean it again.
Repacking the joint
I repack the CV joint with a syringe before installing the seal:
- Grease inside the joint first
- A dab on each ball on the outside
Don’t overdo the grease — if it gets on the glue surface the seal won’t bond.
Grease loaded in a syringe for repacking.
Grease inside the joint and a dab on each ball.
The new seal
Replacement seal from Shem Group, part 11553453300.
Shem Group sells the seal under part number 11553453300. It includes a ring for the inner lip — I remove that ring and use safety wire instead, because with the ring in place it’s too hard to get the seal on fast enough once the adhesive is applied.
Installing the seal
3M Black Super Weatherstrip and Gasket Adhesive (08008).
I use 3M Black Super Weatherstrip and Gasket Adhesive (08008). It dries fast — have everything ready before you open the tube.
Order of operations:
- Clean and grease the joint (no adhesive yet)
- Run a bead of 08008 on the shaft outer lip, inner lip, and the seal outer lip
- Press the seal on quickly — it will resist the whole way
If it leaks, it’ll be at the outer lip. That joint is somewhat serviceable if you’re careful on the next attempt.