The truck is the No 1 in my signature.

I've got a very slow leak off the bottom of the left front lower ball joint. I can see the dampness apparently originating from the axle housing where the axle enters about 12 inches inboard from the end of the axle. Make sense???

I'm guessing the axle seals are the problem. I've been checking the gear oil in the front case and it has not dropped noticeably at all over the period I've been checking it... about the last month.

I recall reading here a while back that the axle seals can leak very slowly and sometimes they even stop. The gear oil level in the front case is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch below the fill hole.

Any ideas???

 

Before you start messing with axle seals, which are a PITA, check the vent tube for the differential. Often times they will get clogged (mud dobber bees, etc) and then the weakest seal in the axle will become the vent, hence the seepage.

 

What's the vent tube look like and where is it located?

 

The vent is on a tube that terminates almost under the air filter box.