I posted this in the superduty section but I would like to know what you guys think.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...uys-think.html

Thanks!

 

I replied to your original post.

 

well I have an inner axle seal leak, but it doesn't make a puddle. just get the axle behind the knuckle extra dirty and greasy. I've been to a reputable 4wd center (since I was thinking of regearing, lifts, etc) and they said that usually it will leak down to level with the axle tube and stop. they quoted 200 bucks to repair, and since I've been meaning to change out the front and rear diff fluid, I figure that'll be taken care of as well. seemed like a good price. here's how bad mine looks at the moment


Edit to add: I had a 2000 F450 that i bought used. It needed rotors on the rear, but I wasn't as familar with a dual wheel setup, and at that time pretty busy, so I ended up throwing on some sacrifical pads until I could make time to have it properly fixed. Well I started noticing what appeared to be brake fluid inside the wheel and wheel well. It ended up the rotor was worn down enough on the inside that the piston was coming out far enough to allow fluid by. eventually one day all of a sudden I had not brakes, or actually I had to continuously pump them. Turns out the piston came out far enough that there was no pressure. I thought I had a brake line bust. Thankfully it happened about a mile from the job I was going to. Made it there, and immediately checked it out. I came up with a afro-engineered plan to get it back to the house. I had a c-clamp in my toolbox, and clamped the line to keep any fluid from reaching that caliper. Got it home, and dedicated myself to replacing the rotors and caliper. I know that isn't the case here, but when I had fluid that was "sprayed" all inside the wheel well, it in fact, turned out to be brake fluid. I can't imagine enough of an inner axle leak that would leak enough for it to get all inside the wheel well.

 

My leak does not look like that. It is more of a fine oil not a greasy oil. I will have to check the brakes again to see if it that or not. Thanks to both of you for the info and I will let you all know what I find out.

Edit: I will try to get a pic and post it today. If not I will get it up tomorrow.

 

Here are the pics that I took. It was getting dark so I will have to take a better look tomorrow but it looks like it might be from my tranny cooler. Not sure but I know that the fluid is red in color and looks to be coming from that area. If you look at the third pic you can see a small drop hanging on to the crossmember.

Do the tranny cooler lines run on the passenger side?

 

That is one way to prevent rust!!

 

I don't think it is brake fluid or front diff lube so that does leave Tranny fluid.

 

tranny lines are on the pass side

 

Here's tip for those farting around with your hubs while the front is on stands. Do not turn the steering wheel to turn the hubs. This blew my PS pump cap off and spewed fluid all over the driver side. That is good rust inhibitor too. Just muscle the thing back and forth to do what you need.

At first I thought you might have done the same thing but saw you are on the passenger side.

 

Make sure the key is in the ignition and the steering wheel is unlocked if you are going to do it that way...

I pulled my heim joint on the inner drag link (connecting to the pitman arm) to replace it when I was under there so I didn't have to worry about about it.

 

Two more pictures and a video link. I can not see where the fluid came from. It is no longer leaking. The fluid in the tranny seems to be in the proper operating range. When I go to work tonight I will park it so I can tell if it did leak again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vbVseAI_jc

 

get some brake cleaner and clean the chit out of the underside there. I like to use the brake cleaner cause it evaporates so fast and will have a clean (relatively) and dry surface really fast. then once clean, check for leaks. much easier to see where it is coming from.