An Examination of Driveline Seal and Lubricant Interactions in Durability Testing to Better Predict Real World Performance

Static and dynamic seal testing under a range of conditions have been historically used to demonstrate the long term durability of radial lip seals in automotive driveline applications. As demands for higher performance and longevity from the OEM's and tier one suppliers continue to increase, the seal and lubrication interactions become more critical. Additional test methods are needed which can augment these traditional tests and provide a better predictor of durability performance and expected life in the field. These new methods need to account for knowledge gaps in traditional testing while generating predictive results in an efficient manner in terms of both cost and time. As a result, the paper will discuss the optimal approach of evaluating the interactions between the driveline sealing system and lubricant system holistically.