My car is in the hands of my local garage, very fair in terms of price normally,
When I called yesterday for a progress update the fitter was spitting feathers! He said it was a pig of a job! I hadn't got a quote first, nor do I know yet what the price is.

I know it's ready for lunchtime,

I supplied BOTH seals,

Any guesses as to how much of a bill I'm to expect?

You remember to give them the drive shaft 'O ' ring? Might be back to fix a leak very soon if not.

Nope

Good advice, change the o ring seal at the same time. About 2 hours labour £80.00ish

I've had the seals done by you Paul (prev owner) twice over a 8-10 year period, I know for a fact my mechanic would have just put the seals in, and the cars now back together..

Is there a chance as MM did the seals a few years ago, the O rings in the box would suffice?

Or have I set myself up for failure??

Also is it normal to need seals done 3 times in so many years?

If the offside shaft is refitted with care the o ring should be ok. We always change it and clean the viscos drive that it fits into.
The life of the seals would depend on the age and mileage.

Thanks Paul, I will just hope for the best I think!

Not the end of the world if it leaks. Just don't run the box dry. As the shafts been apart I'd be very surprised if it took more than a hour to fix.

I've never owned a coupe with leaky shafts though... Its a bit disheartening.. I've owned 18!

I have had this issue. Takes no longer than an hour with fcss! Maybe fiat want paying for scratching their heads?

£60 in the end for both, He said he was aware of the O rings, they were nice and new & the shafts were no struggle going back in, He also said they get damaged when the shafts put up a fight, and a mechanic damages them on ramming the shafts in...

Time will tell!