2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front Axle Leak & Trans Leak?

[cmckinney]

Installed new coils and shocks this weekend. I noted that the passenger side of the axle where the shaft comes out looked like it had leaked some diff oil. It was dry and did not appear to have any new oil anywhere. Have you guys seen this on your 4x4 also? I also noticed the transmission looked to have leaked some trans oil from the bell housing and from the side windows of the NV4500. Is this normal or should I take my truck in to the dealer?



-CM

 

[Pit Bull]

Could be that pill bottle at the front of the engine blowing oil all over everything. Check all of your levels, empty the pill bottle, get some simple green cleaner and clean everything up and then drive it for a week and check and see if it is leaking.

 

[cmckinney]

Well I don't think it could have been that b/c it was where the axle ends and where the U-joint is connected to the shaft. I'll post a pic tomorrow. I remember reading about this same thing on TDR and someone had their bearing replaced. But that sounds like a pain in the but to deal with the Dodge house to get it fixed.



-CM

 

[Sky]

My front right axel is leaking too. I went and had it checked and its a small seal in there leaking differential fluid. Its not cheap to fix.

 

[cmckinney]

Sky



Did the dealer cover the cost of the repair? My truck has 9300 miles on it so I'm disappointed if it had issues already.



-CM

 

[Sky]

I just found out about this about a week ago and I have 72k on my truck so I will be paying for it. If you only have 9300 it should be coverd.

 

[cmckinney]

Here's what my front axle looks like:



#ad

 

[Smills]

my drivers front axle seal is leaking also. the seal between the tcase and trans, rear pinion, rear diff, rear output on tcase rear main or oil pan possibly all these are leaking at 40,000.

i hope the rest of the life of my truck isnt like this its kind of a bad start to having a new truck.

 

[cmckinney]

I guess I'll take it to the Dodge house and see what they say.



-CM

 

[Pit Bull]

You guys probably don't have the 5 year 100K mile bumper to bumper warranty? The reason I bought it was that if I buy something like that nothing then goes wrong. If I don't buy it the minute the factory warranty is up it breaks. Good luck and keep us posted. Are you using other than factory recommended lubes. I know that they recommend that all of the diff. fluid be MT-1 compatible.

 

[cmckinney]

Pit



Well I did get the extra warranety but it didn't help me out. But look at my mileage less than 9500 miles on it...

 

[Pit Bull]

Why isn't it covered? Because you bombed the suspension?

 

[cmckinney]

I still haven't taken it to the Dodge house yet. I'm sure I can get it covered if not I'll be sure they know how I feel.



-CM

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

My tcase transmission and front and rear differentials are all bleeding to death slowly. My front axel seal on the passenger side had a major hemoraghe. It could dump several quarts in about 3 hours. I just had it replaced with the pinion seal. Ill get to the rest later I guess. Im waiting on the rear diff cause my limited slip is on its way out.

 

[cmckinney]

Dealer Fix

Finally took my truck into the dealer. Took 1 day to look at it another to order the part and one more to fix the problem. They put a new seal in the end of the axle so it no longer leaks. They cleaned up the area so I'll be watching to see if it leaks anymore. At least I received a free oil change on my front differential.



-CM

 

[WyoJim]

CM... My manual states that the front differential should be filled to 1/2 inch below the plug and the rear should be 3/4 inch below the plug. Filling until the fluid runs out tends to hasten if not cause seal leaks. I would park it on the level and check how full they are.



Also a while back this subject was in a thread that said a lot of leaks are temporary and heal them selves especially right after the seal is new. Which yours was and is again now maybe.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by WyoJim

CM... My manual states that the front differential should be filled to 1/2 inch below the plug and the rear should be 3/4 inch below the plug. Filling until the fluid runs out tends to hasten if not cause seal leaks.

I guess I don't understand this because the after market covers hold more fluid at a higher level than the OEM. If this "Full" issue were valid we would be seeing a bunch of leaking seals from members with these after market covers. Also several knowledgeable members have stated in previous threads that you can't over fill the Differential. I know my manual says to fill to the same level that your stating but it does not state what will happen if you over fill? I think I would reather have it over filled than under filled.

 

[emjay]

Personally, I think its BS about filling to 1/2" below. If that were so, why don't they change the fill hole location? When you go around a corner, oil goes down the axle tube and helps lube the seal and possbily the bearing depending on your axle. (I haven't looked at mine, but some FF rears have seals on the axle like the front. ) In any case, filling the oil to a lower level does two things: 1. makes it less likely to spill oil on a turn if the seal's bad (meaning customer doesn't notice the leak), and 2. Increases the possibility of the seal running dry. If you drive through deep water or mud, that'll cause a seal failure if you get enough crud in there. Same with sand, maybe worse. My Willys Jeep T/C has thick felt seals outside of each output shaft oil seal, presumably to keep the crud away from the seal.

 

[WyoJim]

Well you guys go ahead and fill them up however you like.

I haven't had a seal leak since I replaced them the third time on my '86 ford some years ago. Left the fluid down where my mechanic said to and ran it a 100,000 more miles with no more leaks.

Of course you guys are smarter than the engineers that designed them. hee hee

 

[CumminsPower98]

I found that I need to run my front diff below the plug a bit because when I filled it clear up I had oil puking out the vent hose on the passenger side fender if it was hot weather and I went a good distance. Since I have been running the level a little below the plug I have not had anymore oil puking out. I run my rear diff clear up to the plug and have had no leaks since replacing the pinion seal, which was leaking when I got the truck.



Mark