Leaking pinion seal?

[krackle]

Hi all, just purchased a used 97 explorer a couple weeks ago with 79k miles on the odometer. Everything seems to be in good condition except for a few minor fix its and what looks like a front right leaky pinion seal.

I've attached a couple pictures where the front leak is coming from, it's for sure gear oil. Could this be anything else besides the pinion seal? I've read the procedure for replacing the pinion seal, anything else I should bother replacing once I get it all taken apart?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[IZwack]

FYI: thats not a pinion seal, thats an axle shaft seal

The "pinion" is a gear inside the axle and has a yoke bolted to it from the outside - to which one end of the driveshaft then bolts to.

 

[krackle]

Thanks

I should mention my overall mechanical knowledge of vehicles is limited, but I can follow the shop manual pretty well.