Tired of leaky/seeping axle seals! Is this going to keep happening?

[Lancem]

Are you referring to wheel bearings? How are the seals ruined... is it from metal debris getting in the oil? And if so, what other implications could happen? (i.e. another failed diff?) Feel free to talk me off the ledge! lol

As the bearings wear slop is created allowing the axle to move, maybe only thousands of an inch but move none the less. This causes more wear on one part of the seal which starts to open up, then the leaking starts. Replace just the seal and it will be good for a while until it too wears and starts to leak. Replace the bearing and the seal problem solved. With all the labor to just get to the seal, the bearing is the next item behind it and only takes another minute or so to pull and replace it.

 

[dnt1010]

X2

 

[thompsoj22]

imo, input/output shaft seal's should not leak in a perfect world. However based upon your pic/description the seal is simply weeping/seeping and appears to be "static" as though only when sitting idle/parked for some period of time. is the car ever parked in your daily travels excessively leaning to that side? and as stated if the vent lines are clear i would check the servicing/fluid level. Than lay some newspaper down and geat a can of brake clean and wash it down spotless and monitor it effectively. until it starts actually leaking and making a mess try to live with it. also seals can leak from the press fit tolerance if not properly installed, in other words the leak could be coming from the seal to diff housing as opposed to seal to axle shaft. clean it and monitor it.

 

[KATfishing]

As the bearings wear slop is created allowing the axle to move, maybe only thousands of an inch but move none the less. This causes more wear on one part of the seal which starts to open up, then the leaking starts. Replace just the seal and it will be good for a while until it too wears and starts to leak. Replace the bearing and the seal problem solved. With all the labor to just get to the seal, the bearing is the next item behind it and only takes another minute or so to pull and replace it.

Thanks a lot. This helps me understand what's likely going on. I appreciate it!

 

[KATfishing]

imo, input/output shaft seal's should not leak in a perfect world. However based upon your pic/description the seal is simply weeping/seeping and appears to be "static" as though only when sitting idle/parked for some period of time. is the car ever parked in your daily travels excessively leaning to that side? and as stated if the vent lines are clear i would check the servicing/fluid level. Than lay some newspaper down and geat a can of brake clean and wash it down spotless and monitor it effectively. until it starts actually leaking and making a mess try to live with it. also seals can leak from the press fit tolerance if not properly installed, in other words the leak could be coming from the seal to diff housing as opposed to seal to axle shaft. clean it and monitor it.

Thank you for this insight! The vehicle is always parked flat and not leaning to that side. I will clean it up good with brake cleaner and put newspaper down. There is always one hanging "drop" of fluid as you can see in the pic, but it rarely hits the garage floor... just hangs there. I'm not sure if it's spitting out as I drive or not. I'll have the level checked for that. Are vent lines easy for a novice to check?

 

[thompsoj22]

Thank you for this insight! The vehicle is always parked flat and not leaning to that side. I will clean it up good with brake cleaner and put newspaper down. There is always one hanging "drop" of fluid as you can see in the pic, but it rarely hits the garage floor... just hangs there. I'm not sure if it's spitting out as I drive or not. I'll have the level checked for that. Are vent lines easy for a novice to check?

The vent line is a rubber tube that mounts to the top of the front differential and is routed to a clamp just to the left of your engine bay fuse box and has a small plastic cap attached to it. You cant miss it, the small rubber tube is visible just to the left of the steering shaft universal boot. Two diff's with the same leak in the same location would justify verifying that the vent is functioning correctly and allowing the diff to allways maintain a 0 pressure static/dynamic at all temps. make sure the tube is not kinked/blocked by pulling it off the top of the diff and pulling it through the routing clamps to get enough slack to blow/suck on the tube from the top of the engine area and confirm that a reasonable amount of air moves both ways. it should not be blocked in either direction. "caution" no telling whats in the tube.

 

[yukonlou]

Here's a couple of pictures showing the location on the vent tube. Had to drop axle to change oil cooler lines last week... Tube is right by filler hole.

 

[KATfishing]

The vent line is a rubber tube that mounts to the top of the front differential and is routed to a clamp just to the left of your engine bay fuse box and has a small plastic cap attached to it. You cant miss it, the small rubber tube is visible just to the left of the steering shaft universal boot. Two diff's with the same leak in the same location would justify verifying that the vent is functioning correctly and allowing the diff to allways maintain a 0 pressure static/dynamic at all temps. make sure the tube is not kinked/blocked by pulling it off the top of the diff and pulling it through the routing clamps to get enough slack to blow/suck on the tube from the top of the engine area and confirm that a reasonable amount of air moves both ways. it should not be blocked in either direction. "caution" no telling whats in the tube.

This is incredibly helpful! Just so I understand correctly, "pulling it off the top of the diff" means disconnecting it from the diff? Then, from the top of the engine bay, once I have enough slack, blowing/sucking air cautiously with mouth to make sure it's not clogged?

 

[KATfishing]

Here's a couple of pictures showing the location on the vent tube. Had to drop axle to change oil cooler lines last week... Tube is right by filler hole.

View attachment 212791 View attachment 212792

Thanks so much for the pics. This is REALLY helpful!

 

[thompsoj22]

This is incredibly helpful! Just so I understand correctly, "pulling it off the top of the diff" means disconnecting it from the diff? Then, from the top of the engine bay, once I have enough slack, blowing/sucking air cautiously with mouth to make sure it's not clogged?

yup, it should come off reasonably easy as it has to have been R&R to swap the previous differential. However if the extension housing was not replaced with the previous bad differential than it could be that component that was reinstalled. when you spray it with brake clean and monitor the leak try to confirm the leak/fluid is escaping between the seal and axle shaft and not the seal and housing that it is mounted in. understand im just brainstorming from experience and defining what i would do in my garage, i think as much of a perfectionist as i am i would try to accept that small leak for awhile to see if it gets worse?