Front Axle Help.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Glen Rose, Texas
Ive owned it almost a year. Bought it with 200k, now sitting at 221k.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Glen Rose, Texas
Im going to clean all this around the area, clean the shop floor, put it back together and check to see if theres a spot in the morning. All I can think of right now to get rid of the grease factor involved.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
In your photos it appears you inner dust seal is wet all the way around. That indicates an inner axle seal leakage problem. The pumpkin (ring and pinion!) has to come apart and the axle shafts out to check those and, if necessary, replace them. Not easy, but not hard with the right tools and manual. It is a 5 hour job easy. Check the fluid level in the differential. If it is really low, you will need to tear into it. If it is still at the bottom of the fill plug you can play wait and see.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
That is precisely what I am afraid of. Water will be at the bottom of the oil and not easy to detect. Previous owner may not have had a clue about these things and taken it in a creek or deep water, and then not done the required maintenance after something like that. I say drain the diff and fill it back up after you clean everything. Start with a clean troubleshooting slate.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Glen Rose, Texas
Yea the diff fluid is something I need to get to. Havent changed that since I bought it. As soon as work gets back to the steady flow summer brings me, Ill get all that going to.
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Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
It cost me about $20 to change my Differential fluid. Three bottles of 80w-90 and some RTV. Definitely one of the cheaper things to do to these things.
Wife just go back. That inner seal gap looks just fine on yours. I'm thinking you have water in your differential or oil that is too thin, and it is getting past your inner seal.
Wife just go back. That inner seal gap looks just fine on yours. I'm thinking you have water in your differential or oil that is too thin, and it is getting past your inner seal.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 411
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Glad to hear it. Good luck with the change, make sure you have a 5/16s allen head socket to remove the front cover, I was SOL 'till my wife came home with the other car and I could go to the store. Someone had used Locktite on the bolt with the allen key head on it...
New User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 9
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From: AustinTX
Nicmike - how snuggle should the inner dust seal sit inside the shift tube. I did mine ball joints recently and replaced my knuckle seal and I'm also seeing a leakage the same as the pictures on this post.
think the knuckle seal not seated deep enough causing the inner dust seal not to seal properly?
think the knuckle seal not seated deep enough causing the inner dust seal not to seal properly?
New User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: AustinTX
So does this inner dust seal really seal the oil in the shaft from coming out ? I recently did my ball joints and knuckle seal, and dust seal perhaps my seal is not sitting deep enough causing my axle leak. Possible?
There is no way to pry it back in. That depth is determined by the outer axle seal that the spindle rides in. If the outer seal is not set to the correct depth in the knuckle (has anyone done this work recently on your truck?), then you might have a problem there. I don't have my X in the driveway right now, as my wife is out joyriding in it. When/if she gets back, I will take a look at that gap on mine.
She had the nerve to tell me to put the 110hp tune back on it because it was more fun....
She had the nerve to tell me to put the 110hp tune back on it because it was more fun....
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 967
Likes: 7
From: coquitlam,BC
No, it is really to keep stuff out of the axle.If you have recently pulled your axle shaft from the diff then you will have some residual gear oil weep out. if it continues for a long peroid of time then the inner seal is leaking.