grouch

I noticed the axle seal on the passenger side of my front axle is seeping oil. It's enough that the axle housing is covered in gook. I've got a very early 2001 Ram 2500 4X4. How much of a stinker is this puppy to change out? I don't want to run my front axle dry or get moisture in it this winter.

pind

get this, its easier than the driver's side.

Take off the hub, and slide the axle out of the housing, remove the CAD cover, and the Cad collar, using a long extension and an appropriate sized 3/4 drive socket, knock the seal back into the CAD opening, and remove it. Put the new seal in place, and using washers or a socket of the proper size, make a puller out of a piece of threaded rod, and use it to pull the new seal into place. Lube the lip of the seal, and reassemble as required.

I have found in the past, that if you use the round brush attachment on a shop vac, you can get most of the crap out of the axle tube, lessening your chances of wrecking the new seal.

Also, jack the truck up on the right side, and leave the left side down, this will keep the diff fluid on teh downhill side, and you won't lose as much. Also makes for a cleaner job.

infidel

First of all make sure your differential isn't overfilled.
Factory spec is 3/4" below the bottom of the fill hole.
I guarantee they will eventually leak out the ends if filled to the bottom of the hole.
If the leak persists after lowering the fluid to the correct level for at least 500 miles go here> http://dieselpowerman.tripod.com/Fro...xle%20Tech.htm

gorms

Just a personal note, I wasted a new seal once using a piece of 3/8" threaded rod, just what I had kicking around. It kept cocking in the bore, then when egg shaped. I then went out and got a piece of either 5/8" or 3/4" zinc plated threaded rod, and it pulled in nice and square first shot. The small rod was just bending, letting the seal go in crooked.