axle seal question

[Blackcloud]

After replacing the rotors,pads and outter front u-joints,I have developed a leak in the left front seal. I greased the axle shaft before reinstalling and was very careful sliding the shaft back in. The question I have is,has anybody used or tried some type of "seal sweller"like motor honey or trans honey?I'm busier than all getout right now and don't have the time to tear the front axle apart again,but am looking for a way to buy some time,and hopefully save the brake pads before it's too late. Gime your thoughts.

 

[rattlnrench]

I don't know how bad your leak is but it's possible that a little grease ended up in the axle tube when you had the axle out. It will take a little while before it finally drains out of the tube. If it was mine I would watch the grease level in the front differential & see if the leak goes away or slows down with time. Patience might pay off big on this one.

 

[illflem]

Just as rattlnrench said. Unless you had one side of the truck jacked high while pulling the axle so that the fluid ran to the other side there will be fluid that ran past the seal into the axle tube while the axle was out. Give it 500 miles to clear up. Happened to me also, bought a new seal at Napa, it's still in the glove box after over 100k leak free miles.



From what I understand the "seal sweller" will stop leaks but will also shorten the life of the seal. I've used it with good results on farm implements but wouldn't dream of it on my Dodges.

 

[Blackcloud]

Unfortunately I did jack up one side them the other when doing the outter u-joints,so that would rule that out. Unfortunately again I have already put on 450-500 miles since this started. Any sugestions?

 

[azcummins]

Blackcloud-

I just got done having the same issue. Here are my suggestions:



1. Go drive some more. Mine leaked pretty bad: puddle size of softball after leaving the truck parked overnight but after driving 110 miles from Ft. Collins to Colorado Springs: no leak. I'd drive some good highway miles at high speed for at least an hr to really heat things up and get those seals hot again.



2. Don't worry about it. I was stressed about mine till I drove it around. Just go drive.



P. S. If you want, come to the RMTDR Dyno Day this sat (6. 1). That should put enough miles down to fix your seal problem!

 

[DieselDoghouse]

One other possibility is that the seating spring collar wrapped around the outside of the seal popped loose - that's what happened to mine (despite gingerly reinstalling the axles). The left (driver's) seal has a spring, my right did not. Replacing the left seal requires dropping the differential carrier, but mine did 'dislodge' much easier than reports. All told it took 1/2 a day to do. Two pieces of advice from a self-proclaimed expert. #1: If you gotta do the left seal, do 'em both now!!! You'll have to pull both axles anyway to drop the diff. #2 I still say I found it easier to press each seal in with a tool I made from a brake spreader by pushing across the cavity (pumpkin or CAD shift box) than drawing them into place down the length of the axle tube (ala MIller tool) just IMHO. I could watch the seal and keep it straight. Remember your repair work was only 10% of the leaking, 90% was old, dry, cranky seals!!

 

[azcummins]

Blackcloud-



What is the update?

 

[DieselB59]

http://www.lucasoil.com/Product_Details.cfm?Product_ID=18



Their stuff is really good. Look at it this way, if you use it and it doesn't work, they'll refund your money and you'll have to do the seal job. How can you go wrong? It's worth the chance. I've used their power steering stop leak and my entire steering fluid is lucas, and I haven't had a problem since. That was 100K ago.

 

[Blackcloud]

azcummins-The update is that the truck is still sitting in the garage since my last post. I did purchase some transmission goop and plan on adding some this weekend and driving the truck around for a bit(not as far as your TDR gathering). I'll post after the experiment to let everyone know how it all turns out.

 

[Blackcloud]

Here is the latest on the front axle leak. Sunday morning I added 3oz. of transmission honey to the front differential,took the truck out to run errands and misc. other small jobs. As of today and 250 miles additional miles on the clock,the leak has stopped. I don't know if it was the miles or the additive,but for now it has ceased. I'll obviously keep tabs on this and keep everyone informed if problems return.