Is this a front seal leaking?

[CRutledge]

06 Mcab 4x4 70k miles



Can someone tell me if this is a front seal leaking based on the pictures? It smelled a bit like gear oil so i am guessing its a bad seal and not blow-by. In the second picture it looks like the oil is above the seal making me think its blow-by. how much $$$ am i looking at to repair a front seal?

thanks.

 

[blizzard]

Yes that is your front seal and its about 35 dollars for the seal. I replace my own but you need a torque wrench to set the load.

 

[steved]

Actually that's the pinion seal, on the front axle... the dealer will better understand what you are talking about if you tell them that. FWIW, unless it bothers you, or gets worse, keep an eye on the level and run it... my rear AAM leaked a lot "worse" than that, but only lost maybe a few ounces in over 10k miles (in other words, it looks worse than it actually is).

The "front seal" to me indicates the seal in the front cover, at the crankshaft (on the engine); not the pinion seal.

 

[CRutledge]

I will keep an eye on it. Thanks for the help.

 

[amsoilman]

It looks to me by the pictures you provided, it is not the differential seal, as there is oil above the housing on the frame. It does not appear there is any "drops' hanging on the differentail housing either.



My . 02 worth

 

[steved]

It looks to me by the pictures you provided, it is not the differential seal, as there is oil above the housing on the frame. It does not appear there is any "drops' hanging on the differentail housing either.



My . 02 worth

My pinion seal (also the front) is weeping and it looks just like this... the oil's ability to creep is causing it to "move" upward on the housing. His seal is not leaking that bad yet, again; its weeping. That is also the reason there are no active "drips", the leak is not that bad yet.



As it progresses, it will start to get flung around the underneath by the pinion dust flange and will also start to run down the housing.

 

[CRutledge]

I tend to agree becuase the oil above the housing and no oil behing the dust flange. the blow-by tube was wet looking but like i mentioned before it did smell more like gear oil rather than engine oil

It looks to me by the pictures you provided, it is not the differential seal, as there is oil above the housing on the frame. It does not appear there is any "drops' hanging on the differentail housing either.



My . 02 worth

 

[DGamelin]

I have had to replace my twice in the first 60k. The dealer said it was from the blowby tube it wasn't. After the second time I went to castrol 80-140 I think the little heaver oil might help.



_________________________

93 250 2wd xc 354 auto 274k

04. 5 3500 4wd qc dully 373 6speed 97k

 

[steved]

I have had to replace my twice in the first 60k. The dealer said it was from the blowby tube it wasn't. After the second time I went to castrol 80-140 I think the little heaver oil might help.

Not sure it helps, but it might slow it?



I run 85w140 in the rear and it leaked for two years, actively flinging oil all over the underneath and tailgate. THREE pinion seals were installed (two by a local shop and one by the local dealer, all MOPAR seals) to eliminate the leak (a new seal would start leaking in a few days).



I never changed oil, never changed oil level (I'm well over "full"), and my pinion seal quit leaking two months ago and well over a year since the last replacement. Figure that one out.

 

[amsoilman]

I guess I've been either real lucky, or have a truck that just does not leak oil, gearlube, or transmission oil, as mine hasn't any seapage or signs of leakage under my truck. However, it is an 03" and only has 90+ on the ticker.



Wayne

 

[steved]

However, it is an 03" and only has 90+ on the ticker.



Wayne

I currently have over 212k... and counting. I didn't suffer any major issues (short u-joints) until 140k.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The "usual suspect" is the pinion seal. Replacement is covered in TDR Issue 67, my column.

 

[JFought]

had my 2 pnion replaced before 60K as well. .



06 mega

 

[DGamelin]

I have noticed that mine and the ones we have done in the shop were all highway trucks, that drive for long period of time at high speeds (front pinions seals) anybody else or just coinsidence?

 

[steved]

Mine has most highway miles, and the front started leaking around 200k... and that's even with a No-Spin hub kit installed since 70k. Nothing turns, and it started leaking!

 

[Got HO?]

I consider myself the pinion seal king, I've replaced more than 10 (front) on my '03. When NAPA finally listed one for the AAM, I installed it, that was about 25k miles ago and its dry. The MOPAR seals suck... ... ...