Spindle seal and powertrain system

A spindle assembly of an axle assembly, the axle assembly including an axle housing, an axle shaft, and a wheel end assembly, the spindle assembly comprising:

• an elongate body configured to be coupled to the axle housing, the elongate body partially forming a first cavity and a second cavity;
• a seal coupled to the elongate body at a location between the first cavity and the second cavity, the seal configured to be in contact with the axle shaft to fluidly seal the first and second cavities from one another;
• a breather coupled to the elongate body, the breather disposed in fluid communication with the second cavity;
• and
• a sleeve coupled to the elongate body, the sleeve comprising a notch formed therein;
• wherein, the notch forms at least a portion of a drainage passage through which a fluid in the second cavity may flow from an upper portion of the second cavity to a lower portion thereof.

A vehicle comprising:

• a chassis;
• a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis;
• and
• a powertrain mounted to the chassis comprising a transaxle that includes a housing, an axle assembly at least partially disposed in the housing, and an axle shaft rotatably driven by the powertrain;
• wherein the axle assembly comprises:
• an axle spindle coupled to the second end of the axle housing, the axle spindle configured to receive a second portion of the axle shaft;
• a wheel end assembly coupled to the axle shaft, the wheel end assembly comprising an outer surface configured to receive at least one of the plurality of wheels;
• a seal coupled to the axle spindle, the seal disposed in contact with an outer surface of the axle shaft;
• and
• a breather coupled to the axle spindle at a location spaced from the seal;
• wherein, the axle spindle and the axle shaft at least partially form a first cavity for holding a first fluid;
• wherein, the axle spindle, wheel end assembly, and the axle shaft form a second cavity for holding a second fluid, the first fluid and the second fluid comprising different viscosities;
• wherein, the seal is positioned between the first cavity and the second cavity, the seal configured to fluidly seal the first cavity from the second cavity;
• and
• wherein the axle spindle comprises an elongated channel formed therein, the elongated channel located between the second cavity and the breather.