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?

 

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 leaked also

 

mine too.

CD

 

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.

 

Mine needs to be replaced.

 

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.

 

Get an aftermarket seal. After having the dealer put two in mine, I'd had enough. Put one in myself. No leaks in the past 40k.

 

anyone got a good how to guide to replace this? mine is leaking on my 03

 

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.

 

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.

 

That the one.

 

Had mine fixed at 55K.

 

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.

 

Mine was fine till I put in full syn oil. Now it sweats like all the rest. I will use Torco GL6 next time, a dino oil.