Leaking Front Axle Seal

[Ian5700]

I have a bit of a leak (slighly oiley around the area, spray on the oil pan, etc. as well as a couple of drips on the ground) from the front drive shaft differental (axle) seal. My question is what is the process for fixing this, do you just release the driveshaft at the axle end and then remove the old seal, fluid sprays on floor, push new seal in and then refill axle?

Does this have to be done right away or can i just leave it (obviously will get it done at some point in time), checking it every month or so and topping up if necessary?

 

[Ian5700]

Where is the breather line for the front differental? I might as well check this to see if it is full of dirt, which might stop the leak.

I assume the front driveshaft only spins when you select to drive it or when the Control Trac system drives it due to the front wheels lose of traction?

So in 2wd the halfshafts spinning must be making it leak

What would happen if the front diff was very low or had no fluid, would the front axle just destroy itself leaving you with just a rear wheel drive vehicle?

 

[IZwack]

I for one have never replaced the front axle's pinion seal -- but there have been a few people on the board that have replaced the seal as you described (remove the driveshaft, remove the pinion nut, and replace the seal). A search should turn up a few results.

But keeping track of the fluid level should work until you get the seal replaced. Don't let it dry because your front driveshaft always spins even if your 4wd system is set to "AUTO" -- there is no "disconnect" or "lockouts" at the front wheel bearing assembly. Of course it doesnt generate as much heat in the differential when your just normally driving (say on the highway) since the pinion is just freewheeling against the ring gear, but still there is some heat generated.

The breather tube is somewhat hard to get to. But it is on the passenger's side of the differential -- almost right at the center of the vehicle (since the differential is offset to the driver's side) -- and about 1.5-2.0 inches behind the differential cover. As I remember it (I swapped the front axle out a long time ago), the easiest way to get to this breather tube is to go near the power steering cooler -- which is a finned piece thats maybe half a foot long and sits on top of the front cross member. Be prepared to bend your hands in 20 locations because its very tight in this area.

 

[Ian5700]

I found the breathier line with the white plastic valve on the end, it was where you said attached to a bit of the chassic metal with a clip, it was dirty, but not clogged.

I put some Differental stop leak treatment in today, and treated the outside of the seal, so maybe, lol.

It didn't actually lose as much as i though, over maybe a month <>, it only barely lost 125 ml.