My truck just got all new brakes - rotors, pads, and completely new rear drum brakes. I haven't examined it too closely, but I think oil from my front differential is leaking out near the front driver side wheel. It leaks onto the wheel at or below the axel. It's leaking out pretty good. Where would it leak from or what needs to be replaced? I plan on taking it back to the shop and telling them to fix it and I better do it soon, I think.

 

first off HA HA HA , now for the real note. well if it's like the 98 and 99 and ones where it has a sealed bearing unit that has to be removed to remove the brake rotor. when taking this said bearing off You need to make sure not to Pull the Axle shaft out to far, If you do witch it sounds like they did. it's a game of chance if the disturbed seal will leak. here is a link to help some it up for ya.
http://dieselpowerman.tripod.com/Fro...xle%20Tech.htm

oh ya and the HA HA if for the fact I still have to pull mine all apart cad and all to fix the seal on the passanger side cause I pulled the axle out to far when pulling the ceased bearing.

 

Most times if the axle isn't supported in it's normal position when the rotor is removed the seal will become distorted and lets oil by. When the axle is back in it's original position the seal recovers. The escaped oil becomes trapped in the axle tube and may take 500 miles or so to leak out even though the seal is sealing. You can speed up the time it takes for the escaped oil to leak out by parking on a tilt towards the leak.

I've had dozens of people come to me wanting a seal fixed after a brake job, after telling them to wait it out none have returned with a leak.
I would inform the shop in case it doesn't stop but still wait it out.


Overfilling the differential will also cause leakage. Factory recommended level is 3/4" below the fill hole.

 

Thanks! Hopefully the seal is still good as you said, but is it very bad to run low on gear oil in the front if it isn't? Does that only matter with 4WD?

 

More than likely you've lost very little oil.
Doesn't take much at all to make a mess.
Just keep an eye on the level, most likely you've already lost all you're going to, it came out and was trapped in the axle tube while the brake work was being done.

 

Listen to Infidel. I had both sides that leaked after replacing one bearing and then later ball joints. Checked differential fluid level and left both alone. Now, no leaks and no expensive seal replacement job! Besides, they have to tear it apart and put it all back together to replace the seals, who says it won't leak after that too.

 

Guess it shouldn't be brake fluid after all the work done to the truck... but did you check to make sure it was gear oil?

 

Yea, I made sure it was gear oil. Thanks everybody. I think the "leak" has stopped. I'll check my oil level soon.

 

The leak never stopped. I'm having a shop put a new seal in this week along with other things.

 

I had the same problem i drained all the fluid and i put lucas in there and it stopped leaking a cheap fix if it works for you.

 

Read this and tell me if you think Lucas is a good idea.
I wouldn't touch the stuff. http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm

 

They replaced my sloppy ball joints which helped alot and maybe fixed my death wobble. They also installed the new axel oil seal. Now, I believe they have screwed up the seal on the other side in the process! I'm going to tell them about it and wait to see if it stops. If it doesn't, as before, then they better replace it for free.