I just got my 98 Durango last night and I noticed some fluid on the ground under the rear axle. I figured I would have to redo a brake line. This morning I climbed under it and to find th driver side axle tube is leaking at the differential connection. I am assuming its the inner axle seal thats bad but this is the first time I have seen fluid leak at that connection because of it. So my question is this. What would cause that to leak there? I have had a few CJ's and have always welded that part of the tubes just because they have been known to come apart on the trails. I will probably weld the tubes on this because I assume it has been unseated so to speak and dont need the tube coming out when I driving down the road. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

Looks like Im doing an inner axle seal. just spoke to my friend/ mechanic and thats what he says it is. Should be a simple fix probably a couple hrs

 

Are talking about the axle seal that the axle goes thru or the tube that goes into the pumpkin/diff assy?

 

The tube that goes into the dif assembly that the shaft is inside of. It appears to be leaking out of that connection. I will find out more today since this weekend has been hectic for me and I havent had much time to really get in there and get a good look. I do know it is soaking the front part of the spare tire. Worse comes to worse I will put a new axle under it. Its not that hard of a job since I have done many axle swaps before. My friend and I can prob get it swapped out in a few hrs. I am assuming the inner axle seal, the first seal coming out of the ring and pinion, has gone bad. If thats the case I will swap out both inner and outer seals next weekend.

 

There is no inner seal there at the connection between the axle housing and the carrier housing. It is a welded joint. Now on the outside next to the wheel is a inner wheel seal because the housing is hollow and gear oil lubricates the wheel bearings on the outside at the wheel as well. So basically, at the rear wheel there is a seal, then the bearing, then a hollow housing to the carrier housing all except an adjustment cap for the pre-load on the carrier bearings.

So if you are leaking here at this weld at the tube end then you need to have it arch welded:

 

Nice weld job.

 

Finally had a chance to get under and really look around to find that right before me T junction in the brake line I have a pin hole, which is spraying fluid all over the spare tire and left side of the axle. So this will be an easy fix.