12 Valve Engine and Drivetrain Talk about the 12V engine and drivetrain here. This is for 1994-1998.5 engine and drivetrain discussion only.

How does the front axles seal the gear oil in?

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Old Nov 17, 2009 | 05:19 PM
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How does the front axles seal the gear oil in?

Just got done replacing my ball joints. Now on my pass. side I have gear oil coming out by the nuckle. I didn't see a axle seal on either end. I assumed it was futher inside the tube. Obvoiusly I damaged something to make it leak now. Whats inside there thats gonna need to be replaced to stop this leak?
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Old Nov 17, 2009 | 06:52 PM
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From: Airdrie, Alberta
There is a seal just outboard of the CAD housing. On your normal solid axles, the seals are just outside of the bearings for the carrier. Have to pull the carrier to change them normally.
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Old Nov 17, 2009 | 07:20 PM
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From: Montana
It's very common for fluid to get past the seals and trapped in the axle tube when the axle is hanging out of it's normal position.
Once the axle is back in place the seal will reseal but it may take 500 or more miles for all the trapped fluid to finally leak out.
Be patent.
If you want to speed it up park with the truck tilted toward the leak.
Don't overfill the differential, I guarantee it will leak if filled to the bottom of the fill hole. Factory spec is 3/4" below the bottom of the hole.

If you still think you you need to replace seal, it's not fun, here's instructions> http://dieselpowerman.tripod.com/Fro...xle%20Tech.htm
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Old Nov 18, 2009 | 05:46 PM
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I thought the same thing. So I guess I'll wait it out.
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 03:43 PM
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I had mine leak after the last front end service I had done and it seemed residual from the axle being pulled. I still get a weep once and while but the fluid level seems to stay where its supposed to be. I did originally overfill it and it leaked more.
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 11:12 AM
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From: pacific northwest
seal replacement

If you do have to replace the seal, the passenger side is the easy one since you don't have to drop the diff. You just take the cover off the CAD housing (4 bolts) and pull the half shaft out with the U-joint. Then push the seal into the CAD housing and pull it out. The replacement seal goes in and I used some all-thread with a couple of nuts/washers to drive/pull the seal back in. If you have to do the drivers side you will need to drop the diff and all the fluid. Make sure you mark everything so you get it back into the shimmed position if you want the gears to last.

To speed up the dripping you can use some synthetic safe cleaner (I use electric contact cleaner) sprayed down the axle tube after you got it all back together. It gets the oil out but doesn't harm rubber/synthetic seals like some brake part cleaners do.

cd
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