2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission left front steering knuckle is wet

[shendren]

with oil it looks like. napa says there is not an axle seal for the left front? is this true?



how do i find out what is leaking? i figured it was the axle seal. it is not dripping. it just looks a little wet.



any constructive comments?



thanks. scott.

 

[BigUgly]

Scott;

I had my Right one go out a few months ago. I got some bad news, if it is like mine was (sounds like it), you're in for a hell of a job. On the right side anyway, these seals have to be replaced from the inside. This means I had to have the whole front end tore down and put back together. The seals were about $14. 50 each, but the dealer charged me $488 to do both sides, no one else in town would touch it.

Now, the Left side may be diffrent, what with the right having the CAD in there, but I fear not. The problem is that the ends of the axle are "Dry", the seals are inboard.

My knuckle was wet along the lower half. I hope you caught it before all the lube gets outs and burns up something internal.

Josiah

 

[illflem]

Something I found out recently on these front differentials that has so far proven true on three rigs is if you fill the diff all the way to the bottom of the fill plug it will leak out the end of one the other or both axle tubes. Friend took the time to read the manual and pointed out to me that the it says not to fill the diff more than a 1/2'' below the fill hole. I've always filled them to the bottom. Drained a leaking diff to the correct level, about 3/4 of a quart came out, leak instantly stopped. Also be sure that you are on a level surface when checking.

 

[LSMITH]

Scott, if the knuckle is wet AND the inside of the axle tube is wet then you have an axle seal leaking, there is nothing else it can be. Take a can of brake cleaner and shoot it up the axle tube and wash all the crap out that you can, then take the vent line off and make sure it is clear. If the vent is plugged it will leak oil with perfectly good seals. Keep an eye on the axle tube and the fluid level, with the axle tube cleaned out decently you will be able to tell how much it is leaking. If it is the axle seal leaking take it in, the dealer is quite reasonably priced for this job as the PITA factor is large. I have done one and will not do another unless I just could not swing the cash.





Bill, I have changed my front diff lube 2 times and Dad has changed his 4 times, both were filled as far ABOVE the plug as possible, jam the oil in and then quick plug it. Neither has leaked a drop since this has been done. BOTH of our trucks lost BOTH front axle seals with the recommended fluid level, neither has lost a seal since "overfilling" and we have a combined 140K miles since then.

 

[shendren]

i haven't had the front diff fluid changed for about 60k miles. i will clean it up and try to find out where it is leaking from. is 60k mi too much on the front diff fluid?



thanks. scott.

 

[LSMITH]

Scot, the front spiders turn all the time on one side, but that is all. The front diff is basically freewheeling. 60K is not a lot even in midwest winters. If 60K is all you can get in 3 years I would change it at 3 year intervals regardless of mileage, that is reasonable in both price and frequency.