front pinon seal leaking again
03-31-2009, 01:14 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
front pinon seal leaking again
I love my 06 Dodge 2500 CTD. This is the only problem I've ever had. The pinon seal to the front axle leaks. Not a lot, just enough to wet the differential housing mostly. It's one of those things that most people would probably never notice, but I change my own oil and noticed it over the weekend while I was under there. I first had this seal replaced at 13,000 under warranty. I just hit 40,000 (warranty expired at 36K) and it has started leaking again. I called my service advisor at the dealer and he said if it's is out of warranty and past 12,000 from the repair, I will have to pay out of pocket. He quoted me about $230. I said that I didn't want this to be a recurring problem and that if I paid out of pocket I wanted to make sure it was fixed permanently. He said he couldn't guarantee that. He also said that like all seals, it will wear out with normal wear and tear. I call BS. This is not wear and tear. There is no way a pinon seal is supposed to wear out every 25-30000 miles, if ever. I think there is a problem that should have been addressed under warranty and wasn't, and that is why I'm having this problem again. Do I have any recourse? What can/should I do?
Is this a common problem? Any chance there is a service bulletin for this?
Is this a common problem? Any chance there is a service bulletin for this?
03-31-2009, 01:35 PM
#2
Banned
Common issue and you have little recourse.
Mine weeped (never left a spot on the driveway) from day one. First dodge said it was the crankcase vent, I laughed, asking them how gear oil got in my engine and could coat the BOTTOM of the pinion and not get a drop on the top? Then they said it was over filled at the factory. I was there for my first oil change (it was free) and asked them to action the leak. They said they drained a little bit of oil and added a dye to see how much it leaked. Well it more or less stopped leaking so all is good until 30,000 when I change the oil in the front and it starts weeping again. It did not do it right after I changed the oil but after I ran in 4wd for much of December. Spring came around and I cleaned it up and no more leaks all summer.
So it could be a combination of things but you will hear from many on here, if it does not leave a puddle then Dodge has no actionable item.
Mine weeped (never left a spot on the driveway) from day one. First dodge said it was the crankcase vent, I laughed, asking them how gear oil got in my engine and could coat the BOTTOM of the pinion and not get a drop on the top? Then they said it was over filled at the factory. I was there for my first oil change (it was free) and asked them to action the leak. They said they drained a little bit of oil and added a dye to see how much it leaked. Well it more or less stopped leaking so all is good until 30,000 when I change the oil in the front and it starts weeping again. It did not do it right after I changed the oil but after I ran in 4wd for much of December. Spring came around and I cleaned it up and no more leaks all summer.
So it could be a combination of things but you will hear from many on here, if it does not leave a puddle then Dodge has no actionable item.
03-31-2009, 03:41 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Anacortes Wa.
Posts: 998
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mine leaked too, about 15K +/- a few. Dealer fixed it, & it was fine 'till Dec. Leaked a little while I was going over the pass in a blizzard. Cleaned it up, rinsed it off with the hose, & hasn't leaked a drop since. If it does leak again, I'll speedy sleeve it, & do it myself.
03-31-2009, 06:15 PM
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate, SC
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My front leaked right after 37K miles, I waited till 70K to have it replaced and my back started leaking shortly there after, and is still leaking. Crappy design.
BTW, the front seal cost me $20 at the dealer. I paid a tech about $40 for some "government work" to replace it. I don't know what the rear cost.
BTW, the front seal cost me $20 at the dealer. I paid a tech about $40 for some "government work" to replace it. I don't know what the rear cost.
Trending Topics
04-01-2009, 07:58 AM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Paris, MO
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm on my third one in 80K. I had to pay out of pocket both times to have it replaced at $140 a pop. I'll be doing it myself next time. The second time I had to have it replaced I had 13K on the truck since the last repair and dodge would not cover it, bad part was it started on a long road trip and I waited until I got home to take it back to the dealer that originally replaced it and that put me over the 12K mark.
04-01-2009, 08:43 AM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is this the seal where the front drive shaft enters at the axel... if so, while changing my oil last week I noticed the axel is pretty covered with oil. Not dripping on the floor but it has a lot of wet area. I also noticed there is oil ozzing from where the front flywheel cover meets the pan. Nether of these two areas has ever leaked till now... did a fair amount of driving in 4-wheel drive this past winter, but no more than past winters.
04-01-2009, 08:01 PM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Winston Salem, NC
Posts: 706
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just done mine again the other day. Have a pretty good groove on the yolk where the seal rides. It is good now, but the next time it starts leaking I am going to replace the yoke.
