Front axle seal

[Big D]

... Starting to get a little annoying. It looks like its going to be a third front axle seal for the week... Am I missing something or is there a trick. Each one seems to last a little longer than the other.

Could it be a bad CV or hub?.. No funny noises or clicking.

Any tips ?

 

[rwhitmo04]

... Starting to get a little annoying. It looks like its going to be a third front axle seal for the week... Am I missing something or is there a trick. Each one seems to last a little longer than the other.

Could it be a bad CV or hub?.. No funny noises or clicking.

Any tips ?

Which front axle seal? I believe there's three per side.

 

[Big D]

It's a D2. The outer one right behind the CV joint.

 

[listerdiesel]

Never seen one of those go, ours has 146K miles on and the seal is still oil tight.

Might be worth checking that your breather pipe isn't blocked or squashed and you haven't overfilled the diff.

Peter

 

[Big D]

Check the breather and its fine. Oil level is fine too.

 

[DOHC Holliday]

Maybe the springs are getting knocked out when you install the axle?

If not you can try to tighten the seal ID a little by removing the spring before install, "unscrew" it, clip a few of the windings off, re-thread it and re-install.

 

[Big D]

... Thought maybe it could be the spring popping out... Was really carefully putting the axle shaft in the second time... All lubed up and slow.

The second time it seemed like it was ok until i topped up the fluid to level and then went for an extended highway drive.

 

[ptschram]

Bent shaft?

When did the first one fail? After anything magic happened?

 

[Big D]

No magic moments... Running 32's, standard gears, drive very slowly.

Could it be a bad bearing in the hub or Bad cv causing this? No tears in CV boot, hub bearing looks and sounds ok. Drive shaft does not have any nicks on it...

... I did use an aftermarket seal. Not sure if OE would fare better.

 

[Big D]

Here we go again... Just changed the seal for a third time. This time it lasted for 300 miles. Wtf!!! Is it the shaft, the CV or the hub bearing that might be the culprit?

 

[KyleT]

bearing is my first bet, then CV, then bent shaft.

and dont use britcrap parts.

 

[FIVESPDDISCO]

Could it be the The flange on the axle is rubbing the seal

 

[Big D]

Hmm... Flange movement perhaps? Upper and lower ball joints? Ill have to check this out as this is starting to really annoy me.

 

[listerdiesel]

What oil are you using in the axle?

Peter

 

[Big D]

75W90 synthetic gear oil

 

[Roustabout]

Did you ever get to the bottom of this? I'm having a similar problem. Swapped out both my front axle seals but the passenger side started leaking again about a month later. Swapped it out for a second time and it started leaking again I'm running Redline heavy shockproof fluid and couldn't find any obvious issues with the CV joint or hub. I did use Britpart seals ....

 

[bmxer06pa]

How hard are these seals to change?

 

[Big D]

... Not yet. The last one lasted 1000 miles. I'm beginning to think its a bent axle housing so might change that next but just did not have time lately.

 

[NYChaze]

How hard are these seals to change?

Easy to change but apparently hard to do it right...Im now going on my 2nd...leaking... i dont get it. :banghead:

 

[NYChaze]

Can anyone confirm the correct orientation, reading conflicting reports.

Pic on the right or the left?