'98 XLT pinion seal leaking- Normal?

[c_mccann]

Went today to get my oil changed and they noticed my pinion seal on the diff was leaking - it was wet all over the bottom, not just occasional blow-by. Is this normal? The truck has 62k miles, and has never towed of off-roaded, or been driven by my wife , I dunno. I was told it would cost about $100 bucks to fix, so that tells me I could do it myself, probably. Easy fix? The rear-end fluid only has 3k miles on it.

 

[Doug]

Im pretty sure its a common problem. both my explorer's leaked up front and the rear leaked in the old truck. I have yet to replace the pinion seal but from what ive heard its not to hard of a job. do a search on the board and im sure youll find something.

 

[WannaXP8]

mine leaks..I could have it changed under warrenty..but...naaaa..

 

[Robert]

Mine first started leaking when it was under the 36K warranty. I had it replaced under warranty. At about 50K it started leaking again. I tried to remove the pinion nut with my 3' breaker bar but the dealer over-torqued the nut so much with the last change that I almost pulled my Explorer off my car ramps even with the parking brake set. At that point I gave up and just periodically check the level. Mine doesn't leak bad enough to drip on the ground, but the whole back side of the front differential is wet with oil and I can see where it has splattered off. I just pumped out all the old fluid and pumped in new fluid a few weeks ago since I was getting close to 100K. It was still up to the bottom of the fill hole before I drained it.

If yours isn't too tight you can probably replace it yourself. You might need a pinion seal puller (I didn't get far enough into it to find out) and the seal was about $11 at Napa.

 

[nak4af]

c_mccann

If your truck is close to 100K or more then it is time. Changing isn't hard.

Drain the diff fluid, remove the driveshaft and yoke, pull out the old seal and clean the area. Place the new one in the same way the old one came out, (make sure the part store gave you the right seal) put a ring of oil around the seal before tapping it in. Use a seal tap with the propper adapter to fit around the seal. Tap it in straight, this is very critical!! Re-install yoke and driveshaft, re-torque.

Peice-O-cake! You just saved $70 counting the price of your fluid.

Now go and buy yourself something for $70

 

[Hoppy]

Is there a crush ring in the front differential that has to be changed? Like the one in rear differential input pinion?

Hoppy

 

[Eneurb]

There is a colapsable spacer on the pinion, the entire diff has to be disassembled to get at it. Before removing the pinion nut, count the number of visible threads. When you are reinstalling the nut, tighten it to the same amount of threads. In my experience, I will only recommend replacement of a pinion seal if the leak is bad, not just for sweat. The reason is that I find the only way to properly set pinion bearing pre-load is with the diff. disassembled, and I have seen many cars and trucks with failed pinion bearings soon after the replacement of a pinion seal. (This is just a personal opinion)

 

[Hoppy]

Ah, A fellow Ontarian!

Thanks, I have been giving it some thought and do want the leak fixed. I will more than likely take the axle out of the truck to do it, but I won't do it until the weather warms up a little. I have to do my rear seal too, but the leak there is not as bad. I definately have to do the front though. I just put in over a litre of oil in it the other night, so it is leaking pretty good. Good enough to smell the oil burning off of the exhaust after taking the truck for a good rip down the 406.

Thanks,

Hoppy