Inner axle seal leaking
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 854
Likes: 17
From: Florida
Inner axle seal leaking
I posted this in the SuperDuty area so sorry for a double post but I was getting no bites over there. Hopefully some of you have run into this as well.
I just finished replacing ball joints u-joints and hubs. With the benefit of hindsight, I believe the driver's side inner axle seal was leaking somewhat before I did the ball joints but the oil was only in the axle tube - it was not very much so at the time, I thought it was normal. Anyway, it is now leaking enough to leave a small puddle near the wheel.
So, how urgent is this? I know it would be best to get it done ASAP but I am tired of working on the truck and I am sure many people have one of these leaks for a while before they noticed it.
Also what else would you do when the differential is all apart. I have 100K mi on the truck and rarely use 4 wheel drive. I was going to replace the differential bearings but leave the inner and outer pinion bearings and seals alone. It would not be too much extra work to just totally rehab the front diff (while it is all apart)- but is it necessary and I am not really sure I have all the presses and tools to not screw it up.
Thoughts??
I just finished replacing ball joints u-joints and hubs. With the benefit of hindsight, I believe the driver's side inner axle seal was leaking somewhat before I did the ball joints but the oil was only in the axle tube - it was not very much so at the time, I thought it was normal. Anyway, it is now leaking enough to leave a small puddle near the wheel.
So, how urgent is this? I know it would be best to get it done ASAP but I am tired of working on the truck and I am sure many people have one of these leaks for a while before they noticed it.
Also what else would you do when the differential is all apart. I have 100K mi on the truck and rarely use 4 wheel drive. I was going to replace the differential bearings but leave the inner and outer pinion bearings and seals alone. It would not be too much extra work to just totally rehab the front diff (while it is all apart)- but is it necessary and I am not really sure I have all the presses and tools to not screw it up.
Thoughts??
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 854
Likes: 17
From: Florida
I replaced the vent tube last year - it spontaneously crumbled when I touched it while checking vacuum lines. Due to a hub seal leak, the axle was in and out twice on the driver's side so I think that is what led to the seal's demise. How urgent do you think this is? I am just looking for a few weeks break. I have spend a several weekends working on the truck recently - I am a bit tired and my wife is really sick of it. I suppose I could just pay to have it done....
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 817
Likes: 6
For urgency, I'd put it on my list of things to do by 2020. Just Keep an eye on the fluid level. If it's good in a month,check it 2 months after that. If it's good after those 2, give it 6. I've been monitoring a leak like this for 2 years now and it stopped dripping but I park outside more often now so I'm not sure about that.
But if the oil is getting on your brake rotors or pads, don't drive it before you fix it.
But if the oil is getting on your brake rotors or pads, don't drive it before you fix it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 27,307
Likes: 549
From: Spanaway
Loose too much oil and then the bearing and gear suffer. The next time you need a project. Pull the front cover and
the remove the vent hose and stick a wire from the inside to the outside. That should tell you if some little beastie
left you a mud nest in the passage way. Also next time you have the hsafe out be sure to check the surface that the
rids on for nicks and scratches, You might also see if you can find a large top glass table to roll the shaft on. i don't
recall if the shafts are tapered or not. Should be easy to do if you have the U-joints removed. Your going to be listing
for a tick if the shaft is bent.
the remove the vent hose and stick a wire from the inside to the outside. That should tell you if some little beastie
left you a mud nest in the passage way. Also next time you have the hsafe out be sure to check the surface that the
rids on for nicks and scratches, You might also see if you can find a large top glass table to roll the shaft on. i don't
recall if the shafts are tapered or not. Should be easy to do if you have the U-joints removed. Your going to be listing
for a tick if the shaft is bent.
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