Front axle diff is weeping

[Audiowriter]

My front axle diff is weeping out the pinion / u-joint seal-
Is this seal the same to replace as the rear end differential that the axles must come out and the pinion removed and replaced?

 

[Kirwin]

Unless it drips on the ground, I’d just wipe it down every oil change, keep an eye on fluid level, and keep going. Lots of seals weep some fluid. If it’s leaking that’s another story!

 

[crazy jerry]

im guessing you wont be doing the repair yourself since your asking how to do it ( your simply asking out of curiousity).
the pinion doesnt have to be removed for the front or rear. book says pull axle shafts and check rotating torq then use new nut. thats probly the best way to ensure the nut cant back off as some of its locking ability is lost at removal. the old nut can be marked and reused with another squirt of red loctite and going a hair past the original mark. no axle shaft removal needed for this method.
i could agree to leave it alone for now if its just damp. if theres a oil trail running down the housing, i would get that fixed if it were me.
if your truck is 14+ the pinion doesnt turn anyway unless 4x4 is engaged so theres virtually no risk of running dry on oil