Mainshaft Seal, for Beetle 46-79, Ghia 56-74, Bus 50-79 PREM

OVERVIEW

When it comes to maintaining the mechanical integrity of your air-cooled Volkswagen''s drivetrain, few components are as critical yet frequently overlooked as the mainshaft seal. This premium-grade seal serves as the primary barrier between your transmission''s gear oil and the dry environment of the bellhousing. A failure in this tiny component is never just a minor leak; it is a catastrophic event for your clutch assembly. Once gear oil migrates past a worn or hardened seal and onto the friction surface of your clutch disc, the material becomes contaminated, leading to immediate slipping, aggressive chatter, and eventually a total loss of drive. Our premium version of the 113-311-113 seal is engineered to withstand the modern chemical additives found in today''s gear oils while maintaining its elasticity through thousands of heat cycles, ensuring your clutch stays bone-dry and functional.

This mainshaft seal is designed for universal application across the most iconic VW platforms, fitting both early swing axle and later Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) transaxles. Whether you are performing a full concours restoration on a vintage split-window Beetle or keeping a daily-driven late-model Bay Window Bus on the road, this component is a mandatory replacement item whenever the engine is separated from the gearbox. The premium construction features a reinforced outer casing and a precision-tensioned sealing lip that handles the high rotational speeds of the input shaft without the risk of premature hardening or cracking. At Appletree Auto, we know that the labor involved in pulling an engine far outweighs the cost of the seal, which is why we recommend this premium-grade option to provide the highest level of insurance for your Volkswagen''s clutch and transmission.

FITMENT

• Volkswagen Beetle (Type 1): 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
• Volkswagen Karmann Ghia: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
• Volkswagen Bus / Transporter (Type 2): 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
• Volkswagen Type 3 (Fastback, Squareback, Notchback): 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
• Volkswagen Thing (Type 181): 1973, 1974

SPECS

• Part Number: 113-311-113AP
• Material: Premium High-Grade Nitrile Elastomer with Steel Reinforcement
• Application: Transmission Input Shaft / Mainshaft
• Compatibility: Manual Transmissions (Swing Axle and IRS)
• Design: Spring-loaded inner lip for constant radial tension
• Seal Type: Radial Shaft Seal
• Finish: Corrosion-resistant outer coating for secure seating
• Grade: Premium Aftermarket Replacement

PRO TIPS

1. Inspect the Mainshaft Surface Before Installation

Before you tap the new seal into the transmission case, you must meticulously inspect the surface of the mainshaft (input shaft) where the seal lip will ride. Over decades