Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

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Nailhead
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Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by Nailhead » Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:31 am

I've got gear oil leaking out both sides of my front axle, and I'm looking for some idea of why.

The axle shafts have no side-to-side play, and the breather isn't plugged. The fluid is Royal Purple and is in perfect condition: no water or any other obvious contaminants.

Is this a typical side effect of installing lockout hubs, then?

The dealer wants $950-ish for the repair, and a local shop wants $350, so I want to avoid a repetition of this problem.

Thanks.
'08 Flame Red Quadcab with Spyntec & Teraflex hubs, Mag Hytec pan & covers, Carr rock rail steps, Warn wireless winch controller, Hawk Performance brake pads, Ranch Hand crossover box, and Turbolined bed.
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pdavey
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by pdavey » Sat Jan 26, 2013 12:54 pm

Sounds like the seals have gone bad. I had a string of front axle seal issues under warranty when I first bought the truck. There was no real reason. Then I got them done at merchants and havent had the issue since. Wondering if it was the aftermarket axle seals that did it.

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2005 Dodge Power Wagon QC Black - "Laramie"
Performance Mods:
  • Comp 260 Camshaft, Upgraded Valve Springs, Forged Push Rods, JBA Shorties, Airaid Cold Air Intake, Gibson Dual Cat Exhast (Side Swept), National Speed Custom Tune
Other Mods:
  • Kenwood KVT-719 w/ Garmin Navigation and Kenwood Rear Camera, JL Stealth Sub
Suspension/Protection Mods:
  • Carli Upper "Bomb Proof" Ball Joints, NAPA Lower Ball Joints, Thuren Adj Track Bar, Thuren Adjusted Fox Damper, T-Style Steering Upgrade, New Power Steering Pump, 2012 Power Steering Motor Upgrade, Thuren King 2.5 Custom Rear Shocks -Stage 1, Thuren Off-set Control Arms, Thuren King 2.5 Custom Front Shocks -Stage 2, 35x12.50x17 Nitto Trail Grappler (previous tires Cooper STT), Carli Front Dif Gard,
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FirerescuePW
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by FirerescuePW » Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:51 pm

Did you just recently install the lockout hubs? Sounds like the seals were damaged on reassembly.
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by TwinStick » Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:53 pm

FirerescuePW wrote:Did you just recently install the lockout hubs? Sounds like the seals were damaged on reassembly.

This ^^^.


http://www.quad4x4.com/cgi-bin/commerce ... n&key=4685

http://www.quad4x4.com/cgi-bin/commerce ... &key=10945
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Nailhead
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by Nailhead » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:35 am

FirerescuePW wrote:Did you just recently install the lockout hubs? Sounds like the seals were damaged on reassembly.
I installed those 2 1/2 years ago. That's part of the reason I'm mystified as to why this just happened. On BOTH sides.

It makes me think the diff carrier bearings are going south.
'08 Flame Red Quadcab with Spyntec & Teraflex hubs, Mag Hytec pan & covers, Carr rock rail steps, Warn wireless winch controller, Hawk Performance brake pads, Ranch Hand crossover box, and Turbolined bed.
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by Nailhead » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:38 am

pdavey wrote: Wondering if it was the aftermarket axle seals that did it.

Sent from my DROID DNA
There are no aftermarket seals around here-- dealer-only item. :roll:
'08 Flame Red Quadcab with Spyntec & Teraflex hubs, Mag Hytec pan & covers, Carr rock rail steps, Warn wireless winch controller, Hawk Performance brake pads, Ranch Hand crossover box, and Turbolined bed.
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VA_Wagon Man
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by VA_Wagon Man » Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:27 am

I had both of my inner Axel seals replaced at a dodge dealership fir $400 and some change......i had a nice special favor done for me. Its normally a $1000+ job.:shock:

I had the left side start leaking after a significant deer hit to the front left tire. They replaced both for the $400....

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RustyPW
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by RustyPW » Mon Jan 28, 2013 12:30 am

When replacing the axle shafts back in the housing. You have to be careful of the axle seals. They nick real easy. In your case, 2 1/2 years. How many miles?
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Nailhead
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by Nailhead » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:40 am

RustyPW wrote:When replacing the axle shafts back in the housing. You have to be careful of the axle seals. They nick real easy. In your case, 2 1/2 years. How many miles?
30K +-

To my way of thinking, 2 1/2 years & 30,000 miles takes the lockout installation off the list off probable causes for this sudden hemorrhage. If those seals had been compromised during that install, it seems to me they would have started leaking right away or not at all. I could be wrong, but it doesn't seem logical that all of the sudden they would just start leaking due to damage incurred so long ago.

IIRC, we reinstalled the axle shafts very gingerly with these seals and their preservation in mind.
'08 Flame Red Quadcab with Spyntec & Teraflex hubs, Mag Hytec pan & covers, Carr rock rail steps, Warn wireless winch controller, Hawk Performance brake pads, Ranch Hand crossover box, and Turbolined bed.
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by Nailhead » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:42 am

VA_Wagon Man wrote:i had a nice special favor done for me.
Yes, you did. :rockon:
'08 Flame Red Quadcab with Spyntec & Teraflex hubs, Mag Hytec pan & covers, Carr rock rail steps, Warn wireless winch controller, Hawk Performance brake pads, Ranch Hand crossover box, and Turbolined bed.
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TwinStick

Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by TwinStick » Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:07 am

Maybe the rubber just dry rotted & cracked ???
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verdesardog
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by verdesardog » Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:24 am

I took my axles out to replace ball joints several months ago, my seals aren't leaking...yet. you must have dammaged them slightly.
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Nailhead
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by Nailhead » Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:12 pm

Fix'd.

$371 was all it cost.

Hope it lasts.

Thanks for all the input.
'08 Flame Red Quadcab with Spyntec & Teraflex hubs, Mag Hytec pan & covers, Carr rock rail steps, Warn wireless winch controller, Hawk Performance brake pads, Ranch Hand crossover box, and Turbolined bed.
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pdavey
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by pdavey » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:18 pm

Glad to hear. What was the fix?

Sent from my DROID DNA
2005 Dodge Power Wagon QC Black - "Laramie"
Performance Mods:
  • Comp 260 Camshaft, Upgraded Valve Springs, Forged Push Rods, JBA Shorties, Airaid Cold Air Intake, Gibson Dual Cat Exhast (Side Swept), National Speed Custom Tune
Other Mods:
  • Kenwood KVT-719 w/ Garmin Navigation and Kenwood Rear Camera, JL Stealth Sub
Suspension/Protection Mods:
  • Carli Upper "Bomb Proof" Ball Joints, NAPA Lower Ball Joints, Thuren Adj Track Bar, Thuren Adjusted Fox Damper, T-Style Steering Upgrade, New Power Steering Pump, 2012 Power Steering Motor Upgrade, Thuren King 2.5 Custom Rear Shocks -Stage 1, Thuren Off-set Control Arms, Thuren King 2.5 Custom Front Shocks -Stage 2, 35x12.50x17 Nitto Trail Grappler (previous tires Cooper STT), Carli Front Dif Gard,
Style/Other Mods:
  • KC LightBar Behind Tow Hooks Mount, 2 KC Slim Driving Lights, 2 KC Offroading Lights, Weatherguard Black Steel Truck Box, Winch TPS bypass, Warn Wireless Winch Module
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VA_Wagon Man
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by VA_Wagon Man » Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:42 pm

Nailhead wrote:Fix'd.

$371 was all it cost.

Hope it lasts.

Thanks for all the input.
That's great! I'm with Peter, what was involved?

Sent from the middle of nowhere.
Long Gone:
'05 Silver Power Wagon: # 869: Custom Rear Hitch & Bed Clearance Mod, Custom Front and Rear Tubular Bumpers, Airflow 3rd Gen Snorkel, Diablo Sport Predator, 35x12.50 Nitto Mud Grappler Extreme Terrain, Flow Master 40, Mopar Rock Rails, Warn 15,000lb Winch,with Thermal Bypass, 4.56 Locking front and rear Diffs, Sway-bar disconnect, Uprgraded " T " steering linkage, Fully Skid plated with fore and aft bars, Carli Front Diff Protector, RockCrusher Rear Diff Pro, Bilstein 5100's with rear Custom Valving, Pit Slave Winch Strap, CajunPW PNP Locker By-Pass,

Follow Me, I'll Pull You Out...AFTER you pull me out......
Rausch Creek 2010 Fall Run
Rausch Creek 2011 Spring Run
Rausch Creek 2011 Fall Run
Rausch Creek 2012 Spring Run
Future Rausch Creek 2013 Spring Run June 22nd!

"There is no hunting, like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough, and liked it, never cared for anything else thereafter." --Earnest Hemmingway--
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Nailhead
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Re: Why is My Front Axle Leaking?

Post by Nailhead » Sun Jul 07, 2013 3:37 pm

Been away a while...

I actually don't know how they fixed it, but I'm almost certain they didn't remove the diff.

Still working great, though.
'08 Flame Red Quadcab with Spyntec & Teraflex hubs, Mag Hytec pan & covers, Carr rock rail steps, Warn wireless winch controller, Hawk Performance brake pads, Ranch Hand crossover box, and Turbolined bed.
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