After getting all fired up to replace the seal in my rear axle I started reading all the little "stickys" and found one on the differential (axle) vent and how they tend to plug up and cause pressure and in turn, cause pinion and axle seal leaks.... I guess that once the leak has been established, whether from the clogged vent or a bad seal surface, the drum still has to come off and the brakes replaced because they are probably saturated with oil!!?? Am I assuming correctly??

 

Not always, Ive had the vent clog up twice on me and both times the pinion seal was the one to go. The last time it happened I was in CO and there was oil going everywhere, hitting the exhaust and stinking. I found a place to camp and got under the truck to pull the vent off. I did and then waited till we could make it to the next large town for a pinion seal but found out once I got there that the oil leak stopped. I topped it off with some new oil and additive and kept trucking.

 

I haven't had any pinion seal leakage at all. Dry as a bone there... just the passenger side axle seal....

 

For what brakes cost go ahead and replace them. Im real bad about leaks, when I find one Im very likely to do the entire whatever Im working on.

 

yea... I guess the question is moot because the brakes have to be soaked and in you're in there, replace the seal along with the brakes and clean everything up... then go check the vent.

 

If you have a persistent wheel seal leak, it's probably due to a grooved spindle. There's a good write-up in the sticky about moving the seal to a smooth area of the spindle to avoid having to install a speedi-sleeve.

 

I have just finished with both the rear axles. Neither seal seat was grooved. Both outside bearing races were pitted. Both inside bearings and races looked like new. The vent tube on top of the rear-end was completely plugged. I'm guessin' here but clearing that vent would have probably stopped the leak. Either way, the bearings and the seals have been replaced and I'll have to keep an eye on it for a while. Wannadiesel, your "stickys" are life savers!!! I would never have known about that vent had I not read it in the "stickys"... same with the odometer repair... who would have thought those little gears would be available??!! Appreciate all the comments and guidance!!
Rockfoot

 

I can't take much credit for the sticky. Very few of those are "mine." I didn't even have to track all those links down, most of were suggested by our fellow 1st genners.