Axle Tubes Leaking

[jemail]

Hello,

Has anyone had their axle tubes leak at the spring perch? I saw some oil spots on the ground in my parking stall and took a look underneath the rear. I found a pool of gear oil sitting in my spring perch. So it seems that the tubes are leaking.

If anyone has run across this problem, please let me know how you went about fixing it.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[JDraper]

Uh oh, that doesn't sound good!! If your axle is truly leaking at the perches, you may have a cracked axle housing or it corroded from the salt air. First, I would thoroughly clean the axle off to make sure where the leak is coming from. The axle seals are usually a prime suspect, but you would have oil inside the rear brake drums then. If it's only on the left side, another possiblilty is the breather tube. If you have been in water recently, you could have gotten water into the housing, and the oil has been pushed out through the breather.

Good Luck!!

 

[jemail]

Thanks JDraper.

The brakes are clean and oil-free. I had to double check on the breather tube location and found that it is on the opposite side of the leak (that would have been an easier fix, darn).

Would welding up that area be a positive or negative thing??

Thanks,

 

[JDraper]

I'd think that it would depend upon what caused the leak in the first place. If it's corrosion, I'd say that a new axle housing is in order. If it's cracked, I would think that you could weld it, but I would be really concerned about what caused it to crack in the first place.

 

[jemail]

Well, it is corrosion.

Does anyone know what 8.8 with disc brakes will directly bolt into my '91 X.
If from a newer X, what years are a direct fit in the '91.

Thanks,

 

[RangerX]

95 and up.

 

[jemail]

Hi RangerX,

Just double checking, is there a cut-off date as to what rear end will be a direct bolt-on fit? Or can I use an rear axle assembly up to a 2002 model?

The reason I am asking is because our junkyards have only a small amount of Ford Explorers available, so I want to know what years I can ask for before I call around.

Can I use a rear end from a Mazda Navaho?

Thanks,

 

[JDraper]

You should be able to use the axle out of 2002 Sport, but not out of a 2002 4 door. The 2002 4 door has the independent rear suspension and is a completely different setup. You can use the axle out of a Navajo because the Navajo is mechanically the same as the Explorer.

Also, make sure you either get an axle with the same gear ratio as your current one, or put your gears in the new axle.

 

[mrboyle]

Just FYI, the Navajo rear will have drums just like your X, but Mountaineer will have discs.

 

[jemail]

Hi mrboyle,

What years are the Mountaineers available that will directly fit the Explorer?

Thanks,