Leaky Yoke fix - big pics!

[brisvr4]

Hi guys,

I decided to see what could be done to seal up my leaking yoke once and for all without having to fork out the $44 for the yoke and uni + $60US shipping for a factory revised yoke and uni joint shipped to me from Extremepsi! :thumbsup:
I found that with the other yoke that is one the car already (and leaking) that just smearing liquid steel on the back of the yoke doesn't seem to be a long term solution as it only lasted 2 years or so...

This is what I came up with...
I found that once you remove the metal plug that Mitsubishi saw fit to use to seal the yoke the first time it is a fairly simple case of sealing everything up to be safe then driving a 28mm welsh plug in.
The 28mm plug is pretty much a perfect fit for the inside of the yoke and there is a nice flat edge for it to seal up against.
This looks a lot like what Mitsubishi seems to have come up with for their revised yoke.

I made sure everything was spotless in there then I ran a decent bead of silicone round the top of the splines in the yoke and i spread more onto the dome of the welsh plug. This way when the plug is driven in there are no small gaps made by the splines allowing any oil to leak.

Once I had driven in the welsh plug and made sure it was seated nicely I cleaned off the top of it and coated the edge where it joins the yoke with Liquid steel ( cold weld actually ).
This was to be doubly certain that it won't leak!!
Of course if it does end up leaking (I doubt it highly) then I will buckle and spend $100 on a Mitsubishi yoke!

Ok, on to the procedure with pics...

1. Use a socket extension to drive out the old metal plug

2. This is the back of the yoke with the plug removed

3. This is the crap metal plug and the new shiny brass welsh plug!

4. Welsh plug just prior to being pounded to death!

5. Welsh plug driven home into the yoke.

6. Outside of welsh plug safety sealed with Cold weld.

7. Inside of yoke showing where I sealed the end with silicone.

 

[bazeng]

Great work Tim!

I know how annoying it can be.

I did a similar thing with no luck!!!
It still leaked!

Hopefully yours works!

My yoke was royally rooted though. The outer dust cover was loose and would rattle constantly!

I purchsed a new one from MITSU KNOX (SIVART)
It was over night also!

Anyway, as soon as I fixed it, my gearbox broke! LOL

 

[brisvr4]

Did you pop the metal out and replace it with a welsh plug as well Barry?
I might have to get a genuine one from the States just in case!

 

[turbovr4]

ah ,well that explains the mystery oil leak i've had for months even after i changed the perfectly good oil seal on the transfer output and checked the yoke for wear , all was good but still leaked.also only leaked after i changed the uni joints so i must have disturbed that plug.

 

[youda]

Is there a reason for a plug to be necissary on the yoke? just wonderinging if mine started leaking if i could just lathe up a plug and weld it in?

 

[to4garret]

youda,

i think if you weld where the plug is, you will weaken (brittle) the race the roller bearings sit in (Uni Joint part).

you could probably heat it red a few times afterwards with a oxy and.... i forget which one it is, either leave to cool or dunk it in water.

 

[to4garret]

might get away with brazing something in there though.

 

[JiMi]

if you have to smak the welsh plug in hard it would suprise me if it leaked, espicially since they hold quite a few psi in in the water jacket and dont leak and all that holds them there is a snug fit as well...

but if you must braizing would be your best bet.. dont nead much heat for that.... but the time it spread out to your bearings they would get no hotter that a hard drive on a hot day

 

[brisvr4]

So I had the new yoke fitted yesterday and took the old girl to the drags last night.
Just crawled under the car to check for leaks and.... Nothing! Seal is holding up perfectly so far. Will keep this updated though...

 

[milkandoj]

Hows this going. i might have to do the same

 

[brisvr4]

Still no leaks at all! Working great so far.

 

[milkandoj]

Anything you would do differently if doing it again?

Looks like a good job you did there. Ill give it a crack if not luck ill get a new one. All i need is a few dollar welsh plug, got all the sealants anyway.

 

[brisvr4]

Not really Gerard, I'd probably smear the liquid steel on a little neater if anything! Don't forget to clean everything with brake cleaner several times first!

 

[zen4G63]

Best way I found is to copper weld the plug in and with the oxy the copper wire just flows all around the plug sealing it in... Don't be shy with the weld as it's only copper and can be filed...

Mine hasn't leaked for 5 years or so now....

Just another way