Front axle leak
#1
#2
#3
Replacing your ball joints should have nothing to do with your axle seals. Are you sure it wasn't leaking before? Did they do anything else on your truck? Once the seals are leaking they won't stop on their own. I wouldn't keep driving it, if the fluid gets too low you can burn up the differential. Even when not in 4WD, the driver's side axle shaft still turns and can spin the carrier side gears.
#4
Well, in a way it does. The axle shafts have to be pulled to get the steering knuckle off so the ball joints can be changed. And if care is not taken when reinstalling the shafts, the seals will get torn.
#5
I have also read that driving for a long time with bad ball joints and/or wheel bearings can cause the seals to wear on the lower side (due to the slight angle in the shaft), and when the worn part is replaced (and the shaft returns to its proper location), oil can leak under the shaft. Not totally sure, but that could be it as well.
Last edited by olyelr; 09-28-2009 at 11:52 PM.
#6
#7
happened to me, i had my ball joints and u-joints replaced, axles started leaking, out of both sides..."mechanic" said its leaking out of one side wich i showed him both sides wer so he only replaced one...when he was the one who messed them up in the first place, then i had to go back and get the other axle seal replaced and pay again for labor and the part because of this ****ty lazy *** mechanic. i swear....
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#8
Same here, but then ya gotta think... they couldn't fix it right the first time, do I want them to try again?
If its a decent shop that you trust, I would definitely be taking it back. Thats a bunch of bunk.
#9
Join Date: Apr 2008
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they should definitely fix it. it was removal of the axle shafts that screwed the seals.
they are right about fluid leaking right after the axles are pulled, to a degree. when you pull the axles out they drag some fluid out with them but it will only be like 1/4 cup. if fluid is still coming out after a day or so then the seal is leaking.
one way to be positive its leaking is to clean up the knuckles with brake cleaner and see if you get a bunch of fresh fluid on it after the cleaning.
they are right about fluid leaking right after the axles are pulled, to a degree. when you pull the axles out they drag some fluid out with them but it will only be like 1/4 cup. if fluid is still coming out after a day or so then the seal is leaking.
one way to be positive its leaking is to clean up the knuckles with brake cleaner and see if you get a bunch of fresh fluid on it after the cleaning.