2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Leaking Front axle 4x4

[scotmartin]

My 99 2500 4x4 is leaking gear oil out of the front shaft near the driver's side universal joint. Can someone link me to a page that shows the repair procedure for this? I am pretty sure that I have to remove both shafts and drop the gear set out of the pumpkin, but I would just like to see some pics or procedures. My service CD-rom pretty well stinks and does not even explain if it is an in-board or out-board seal.



Thanks in advance



Scot

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

My 2001. 5 came from the dealer leaking, brand new truck. It took alot of hairpulling and screaming to get them to repair it. Brand new truck. The seal in the Dana axle needs a special tool to replace it. You have to pull it from the inside out. The Tech ( I use that term very loosely) Said he had to pull the whole axle apart. Hope this helps. Goto Dodgeram.org to find instructions.

 

[illflem]

http://dieselpowerman.tripod.com/Front Axle Tech/Front Axle Tech.htm



If you can't get though it's because these tripod sites only allow so many visitors per hour - try again later

 

[moparguy]

Bill, I'm surprised you didn't mention the self-healing properties of front axle seals.



RJR

 

[LSMITH]

This is one repair that the dealer charges fairly for, and I would take in without reservation. It is a royal PITA!!!

 

[scotmartin]

Thanks for all of the help. The web site shows the procedure in great detail. I will do it at our school's (junior college) auto shop. The auto teacher looked at the site with me and said that it looked pretty easy and he had done a couple of these before. The Dodge is slightly different but not too bad. So we shall see.



Thanks again



Scot

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by moparguy

Bill, I'm surprised you didn't mention the self-healing properties of front axle seals.

Yeah, the site was running real slow for me and I got blunt.

Scot, if you've recently done any work on the front end where an axle has been removed or allowed to hang down oil can get past the seal and end up in the diff tube taking a long time to finally all run out. A large percentage of folks just leave it go and it "heals" itself. It took mine about 500 miles to finally clear up. New seals have been in my glove box for over 100k leak free miles. A way to avoid this is to jack one side of the truck high so the diff oil runs to the other side any time you remove the four bolts that hold the unit bearing on.

 

[moparguy]

I'll second illflem. My left front has about 40k on the self healing and the right about 20k.



Even if you haven't' had the truck jacked up on one side, allowing fluid to seep past the seal, I'd keep a check on the oil level in the front axle and give it a few hundred miles to see if it gets better.

Many folks have had leaks stop on their own.



Would be a interesting survey to see how many.



Good luck,



RJR

 

[BertM]

Both sides of mine leaked after changing the ball joints. (1) side self healed, the other got to where I had to park it uphill or you could watch it puddle at the tire. Someone suggested Lucas Hub Oil as a last resort. I put half gear oil and half Lucas. It has not leaked since(10,000 miles). The Lucas oil is so thick it leaves a honey string when you stop pouring.

 

[scotmartin]

The class that screwed it up is going to fix it. But with a better group of students, the teacher watching, and the help of the "front axle tech" web page. The student in charge is almost 50 years old and very good. I will let you know how it goes.



Scot