Front Axle Help.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Glen Rose, Texas
Front Axle Help.
Alright guys, need some more help from the pro's so here I am. When I bought the truck and posted pictures here, someone made mention that one of my front seals were leaking, but due to which one it was it wasnt really a problem.
So here I am now, and under the drivers side right below the shock, and a grease nipple ive been getting a drip lately. Nothing major, but its there after I drive and leave it over night. Mostly a clear liquid with an oil texture (slick) to it. To me it could be some of the grease melting off after driving, or another seal could be going.
Now the reason im here.
1. What kind of expense is it for me to basically redo my front axle?
2. What parts would I need? (seals, ect)
3. Are there any special tools that I would need?
4. If im already into it, is there anything else that should be added or done at the same time?
My diff seems to be fine, so Im thinking I just need to redo all the seals from there out and I should be good. I know nothing about this, so thats why Im here.
2000 F250 4x4
221k miles roughly
Auto
Warn Hubs
Leveling kit and shackels
Adjustable trac bar
Think thats all the info on the truck and the front end you would need to know.
Thanks for the input.
So here I am now, and under the drivers side right below the shock, and a grease nipple ive been getting a drip lately. Nothing major, but its there after I drive and leave it over night. Mostly a clear liquid with an oil texture (slick) to it. To me it could be some of the grease melting off after driving, or another seal could be going.
Now the reason im here.
1. What kind of expense is it for me to basically redo my front axle?
2. What parts would I need? (seals, ect)
3. Are there any special tools that I would need?
4. If im already into it, is there anything else that should be added or done at the same time?
My diff seems to be fine, so Im thinking I just need to redo all the seals from there out and I should be good. I know nothing about this, so thats why Im here.
2000 F250 4x4
221k miles roughly
Auto
Warn Hubs
Leveling kit and shackels
Adjustable trac bar
Think thats all the info on the truck and the front end you would need to know.
Thanks for the input.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 967
Likes: 7
From: coquitlam,BC
Alright guys, need some more help from the pro's so here I am. When I bought the truck and posted pictures here, someone made mention that one of my front seals were leaking, but due to which one it was it wasnt really a problem.
So here I am now, and under the drivers side right below the shock, and a grease nipple ive been getting a drip lately. Nothing major, but its there after I drive and leave it over night. Mostly a clear liquid with an oil texture (slick) to it. To me it could be some of the grease melting off after driving, or another seal could be going.
Now the reason im here.
1. What kind of expense is it for me to basically redo my front axle?
2. What parts would I need? (seals, ect)
3. Are there any special tools that I would need?
4. If im already into it, is there anything else that should be added or done at the same time?
My diff seems to be fine, so Im thinking I just need to redo all the seals from there out and I should be good. I know nothing about this, so thats why Im here.
2000 F250 4x4
221k miles roughly
Auto
Warn Hubs
Leveling kit and shackels
Adjustable trac bar
Think thats all the info on the truck and the front end you would need to know.
Thanks for the input.
So here I am now, and under the drivers side right below the shock, and a grease nipple ive been getting a drip lately. Nothing major, but its there after I drive and leave it over night. Mostly a clear liquid with an oil texture (slick) to it. To me it could be some of the grease melting off after driving, or another seal could be going.
Now the reason im here.
1. What kind of expense is it for me to basically redo my front axle?
2. What parts would I need? (seals, ect)
3. Are there any special tools that I would need?
4. If im already into it, is there anything else that should be added or done at the same time?
My diff seems to be fine, so Im thinking I just need to redo all the seals from there out and I should be good. I know nothing about this, so thats why Im here.
2000 F250 4x4
221k miles roughly
Auto
Warn Hubs
Leveling kit and shackels
Adjustable trac bar
Think thats all the info on the truck and the front end you would need to know.
Thanks for the input.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Glen Rose, Texas
What are those? And what do they do? Yes im stupid on this subject.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Glen Rose, Texas
As for the vent hose, your talking about the one coming up from the diff to the frame?
If so I can easilly pull that off and blow it out, but what about the nipple thats connected to? Any way to check that.
Im basing all this off supposedly theres already one leak in one of the seals, guess tommorrow after work Ill get under it to find if I can find where exactly this fluid is coming from.
And is it just me, but the Guzzles site listed above, either I am blind, or I cant find a link to look at redoing the axle.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
I did shaft u-joints, upper and lower ball joints, bearing assemblies, all the seals, pads and rotors for the front last fall for somewhere around $1200 IIRC, but I didn't use the best parts (we'll see how that goes with time).
If your leak is clear I'm not so sure its diff fluid, unless its BRAND new....does it stink to high heaven or not so much? look above at the master cylinder and the other brake lines right above the axle....
If your leak is clear I'm not so sure its diff fluid, unless its BRAND new....does it stink to high heaven or not so much? look above at the master cylinder and the other brake lines right above the axle....
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Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
Just refurbished my front axle. Sent you a PM. I have all the special tools and manuals for that Dana 50. Bring it over!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 967
Likes: 7
From: coquitlam,BC
It has already been pointed out that one of the seals is leaking from another member. Maybe its just left over after someone fixed it, I really dont know. No maitenance records when I bought it.
As for the vent hose, your talking about the one coming up from the diff to the frame?
If so I can easilly pull that off and blow it out, but what about the nipple thats connected to? Any way to check that.
Im basing all this off supposedly theres already one leak in one of the seals, guess tommorrow after work Ill get under it to find if I can find where exactly this fluid is coming from.
And is it just me, but the Guzzles site listed above, either I am blind, or I cant find a link to look at redoing the axle.
As for the vent hose, your talking about the one coming up from the diff to the frame?
If so I can easilly pull that off and blow it out, but what about the nipple thats connected to? Any way to check that.
Im basing all this off supposedly theres already one leak in one of the seals, guess tommorrow after work Ill get under it to find if I can find where exactly this fluid is coming from.
And is it just me, but the Guzzles site listed above, either I am blind, or I cant find a link to look at redoing the axle.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Glen Rose, Texas
Alright theres no distinct smell to it, clear except to the dirt I picked up off the ground when smelling it. Looks to be coming out by the end of the drivers side axle (where the axle slides in) and dripping down the knuckle I guess its called to the ground. Maybe the outside seal is gone? Maybe the liquid is the seal melting? I dont know.
And I got your pm thanks. Im about 3 hours or so from you. If I cant figure it out I may take you up on your offer. Thanks.
And I got your pm thanks. Im about 3 hours or so from you. If I cant figure it out I may take you up on your offer. Thanks.
Beer Fridge Finder
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 14,988
Likes: 1,151
From: Savannah, GA
Bring 'er on up to Michigan - I have a hoist! The only thing I can think of as far as clear fluid goes is power steering fluid. You might have a leak that is dripping down on top of your axle. Could you take pictures?
Because racetruck
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 104
From: Monterey Bay, CA
Our trucks use ATF for power steering fluid so it would be red not clear.
Beer Fridge Finder
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 14,988
Likes: 1,151
From: Savannah, GA
Yeah I know, but you never know what's been done by the previous owner. I've seen crazier stuff. From there we go to brake fluid, but that seems impossible since he hasn't mentioned the brakes being bad or pulling, etc.
Veteran/Sheepdog
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 110
From: Western AR
Mine was leaking diff oil out where you are talking about...lots of dirt caked around the axle opening. I had some water in my differential from the previous owner.
There is only a dust seal there on the outside. The axle seal is inside up next to the pumpkin on both sides. It is called an inner axle seal, and that is what keeps the oil in the pumpkin and off the ground.
That has to be replaced from inside the pumpkin if it is bad, however that is very rare. The outer axle seal is for the hub vacuum, and it mounts to the short end of the axle outside the u-joint. i had to replace the inner dust seals, the hubs and the outer axle seals. I checked my inner oil seals and found they were still good. My axle was leaking because all of the play from the bad hub bearing was allowing the axle to wobble and let fluid out from the inner seal.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...haft-play.html
There is only a dust seal there on the outside. The axle seal is inside up next to the pumpkin on both sides. It is called an inner axle seal, and that is what keeps the oil in the pumpkin and off the ground.
That has to be replaced from inside the pumpkin if it is bad, however that is very rare. The outer axle seal is for the hub vacuum, and it mounts to the short end of the axle outside the u-joint. i had to replace the inner dust seals, the hubs and the outer axle seals. I checked my inner oil seals and found they were still good. My axle was leaking because all of the play from the bad hub bearing was allowing the axle to wobble and let fluid out from the inner seal.https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...haft-play.html
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Glen Rose, Texas
See if I can get the hang of the picture thing on here.
Appears to be out of the bottom I guess ball joint. Never had to replace them so I dont know what they look like. By the grease nipple. All brake lines and everything above this point is dry, so not thinking anythings leaking down on to it. Brake caliper is dry, and all lines in tact and not leaking. So here it is.