Axle seal question...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Axle seal question...
It would appear my driver's side axle seal is seeping just a bit. From what I've gathered, this is pretty common. I'll swap it out this weekend, but I noticed there was a service bulletin issued for the axle seal as well as the driver's diff. cover seal. Is the concensus that both the axle and cover seal should be swapped at the same time? I.e. how common is it for both to be leaking? I can't really tell if the cover is leaking or not. There's a layer of grease on everything, but the only fluid oil I see is a wet streak at the base of where the half shaft plugs in.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I ended up replacing the side cover O'ring and output shaft seal at the same time. The replacement cover O'ring is slightly larger diameter then the original in cross sections. Over 9K miles since change with no leaks.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Looking at this writeup ...
http://www.cajundude.com/outputshaftseal.htm
His method differs a bit from the factory. Would this method give me enough clearance to get the cover off, or should I plan on tearing it down farther?
http://www.cajundude.com/outputshaftseal.htm
His method differs a bit from the factory. Would this method give me enough clearance to get the cover off, or should I plan on tearing it down farther?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
If it’s seeping "just a bit" then you have time to clean off the differential then drive it awhile to locate any other leakage areas.
Be aware that the top vent is also known to expel lubricant, especially with an overfill condition.
If the side-cover is not leaking, I would leave it alone for now, but it’s your call. Replacing the side cover o-ring is not much more work to replace once the outer axles are out.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
If it’s seeping "just a bit" then you have time to clean off the differential then drive it awhile to locate any other leakage areas.
Be aware that the top vent is also known to expel lubricant, especially with an overfill condition.
If the side-cover is not leaking, I would leave it alone for now, but it’s your call. Replacing the side cover o-ring is not much more work to replace once the outer axles are out.
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