Went out this morning and saw a puddle the size of my fist of gear oil sitting next to my right front tire. I looked and saw that it had also leaked down the back side of the tire. I searched and am confused as to what is causing the leak. Is it the axle seal? And if so some advice as to whether to do it myself or bring it in is appreciated, based on what it is. Thanks.

 

sounds like an axle seal, as long as it IS gear lube, and not brake fluid, lol. You can do this yourself.

Pull the wheel and drum off, remove the diff cover, pull the centerpin out of the diff, push in the axle and remove the c-clip, pull out the axle.

pull out the seal and replace it with a new one while inspecting the rest of the rearend. then install in the reverse order.

 

you will need the tool to set it in there. it will get it in there stright.

 

If only it was that easy! It's the front one that's leaking Helms.

 

thats correct it is the front right one that is leaking. So where does that leave me?

 

A shop. I've had mine replaced twice and the third set is leaking again. Have no clue why they just don't last. The passenger side is the worst as it's hard to access. The carrier has to come out, not for the weekend mechanic. Probably looking at $3-500 for the job, especially if you have both done while its apart. (Recommended)

 

lol, wow. that was an uber fail. sorry about that, i didnt read that very well.

 

here's how. http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/axleseal.php
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/hub.php

actually, the drivers side seal requires removal of diff.
passenger side is done at the CAD. you do have to make or buy a special tool to seat the seal inside the CAD.

you might want to just keep adding oil, or else spend the big $$, or learn how to diy and suck it up to a fairly BIG JOB. just for bonus points, you get to remove front bearings and brakes on this job in order to pull the axles.

it just baffles my as to why the seal is on the INSIDE end of the axle tube instead of being in an easy to get to place in the OUTSIDE, like on the rear.

 

You're right, my mistake. It's been two years since I had mine done and I forgot which side was the hardest. Guess which side always goes first-- the stupid drivers side. Three seals in 100k miles. Rediculous.

 

The driver side is the biggest PITA, but, might also (but not always) require a special tool, case spreader.



And as far as DV's comment goes, about why the seals are not on the outer part of the axle. That's because you would be replacing them every 2 weeks , the vibration/movement of the axle is greater the farther out you go from center. It's a bad design period. That's pretty much why we have IFS now.