Front Driveshaft Question

[tempest411]

Hello,


I obtained a new front drive shaft to replace one that has more wear on the splines than I would like and have a question about where the 'dust seal' is supposed to sit. Most pics I've seen show in a fixed (pressed on?) position on the drive shaft behind the splines. When I received my new drive shaft (with 1" longer splines) I had to epoxy my dust seal on because it did not have the press fit that my old dust seal did on the old shaft. But one picture and one video I've seen recently showed something different. It showed the dust seal as 'floating', but pushed over the shaft coming out of the transfer case. Which is correct? Should I have not epoxied my dust seat to my drive shaft? I'm not really sure this thing does much anyway because if it slips over the shaft coming from the transfer case water will enter between it and the splines on the driveshaft. On the other hand, with it where my original was, and where I put the replacement, it will seal positively on the drive shaft, but not the output shaft from the transfer case. On my old shaft where the splines enter the transfer case output shaft were clearly exposed. At the time I thought although the design as a whole is just stupid, better to have it exposed so moisture can easily evaporate than to create a sheltered pocket that would contain moisture just the same and let rust become more of an issue. On top of that, if it slips over the transfer case output shaft there isn't anything really holding it there, like a snap ring or anything, as would be standard design practice. If BMW had done this correctly there'd have been a molded rubber seal that would have gone between the dust seal and the drive shaft, and a snap ring to affix it to the output shaft. I attached a random picture of what a spline seal would look like. In retrospect, I thought of a third option that I like most of all. Slip it over the output shaft and use some adhesive lined heat shrink tubing between the dust seal and the drive shaft. That would (hopefully) leave you with a junction that is both sealed and securely fixed in place. No matter what I decide I will pack in some water proof grease...