I posted in the help section when I was replacing the seals but now everything is buttoned up and back on the road. I don't drive my truck much maybe 50-100 miles a week unless it's camping season.

So the seals went in fine the drivers side was a mess from a bad seal. I didn't replace the drum brakes/emergency brakes that were coated with oil but cleaned them very well. 02 rear disk primary. I was using the truck yesterday and when I got home I had the distinctive smell of axle fluid again but it was not smoking burning like the last time. Like I said before I reused the emergency brakes due to money $92 for a set and the inner wheel had some drippings from before. Do you think the smell is from the previous leak or did the replacement not hold. I have no visible fluid leak that I can see. I don't feel like taking everything apart just yet. I have the fluid about 1/2 below the filler hole but want to take it up to the bottom of the filler as stated in my manual. I RTV'd the seals before installing and left everything for about 30 hours to completely dry before adding any fluid.

Ideas?

I'm thinking I'll just fill it full and keep checking easiest answer but do you think the old fluid on the pads and wheel would cause the smell again?

Thanks

 

It is likely that the pads were contaminated and causing that smell. If there were an actual leak, you'd probably have oil dripping out onto the ground after the truck was parked for a while. The few times I've had that situation, I just replaced the pads/shoes. Once the oil gets in them, they're done. HTH

 

Thanks I replaced the disk pads (6 month old ceramics) but reused the shoe emergency brake pads that were soaked. Still the same, the emergency brakes shouldn't be getting hot.

 

If its still leaking, it could be from a plugged vent on the diff, follow the hose up and there is a vent on the end, it usually gets gummed up, not allowing the diff to vent and it cause the seals to leak! first thing you always check when a axel/pinion seal starts leaking,

is the park brake sticking slightly on? if so it will cause a burning smell. I found you can burn brake pads with a propane torch and the oil that is soaked into the pads will wick to the top and burn off, (propane heat will not hurt the pads, esp park brake shoes), you can wash (brake clean) shoes all day and put it back together go for a drive get it hot take it apart and the shoes are wet with oil again, if you burn the shoes off, it pretty much removes the oil.