Leaking axle seal?

[AXG1040]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!
So on Monday, I called Stellantis Case Management the Jeep Chrysler Case Management. She told me that the part was coming in today. Well, I called the dealership and said that they got the part in. They just need to get it and install it. It would be a couple of more days. I'm like oh ok I guess. Well, the dealership calls me back in 1.5 hrs saying that the jeep is ready. They changed the shaft. He said it had to do with loose bearings. I am not a mechanic so Idk know what that means. Anywho I go to the dealership and they give me paperwork saying that the shaft was changed and explained the loose bearings issue. I don't trust dealerships, but should I worry that they didn't change anything and just typed it up, or did they really change it? Thanks

Interesting. When was your first visit to the dealer for this? Still waiting on my axle but it has only been 3 weeks.

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[Rubsal70]

Interesting. When was your first visit to the dealer for this? Still waiting on my axle but it has only been 3 weeks.

I think like 2-3 weeks ago. When I first took it they told me it would be 2-3 weeks before they could get a part in. So I am a little worried

 

[ZSum73]

well looks like ill need to visit the dealer sooner than later. after wiping it down i havent driven it at all in 3 days, its been 90 plus degrees and today 75 and i had a quarter sized puddle in the back of my rim on the passenger rear with a drip coming from between the brake rotor and the dust shield. looks like after higher temps and heat expansion and then cooling causes some of the issue, so must be a bad seal.

 

[AXG1040]

Got a call from the dealer that my axle back order was moved up to “ red status “ ……whatever that means. I laughed and asked if that was VIP status? He just said I’ll be next in line when one ships.

 

[Prod343]

2021 Willy passenger rear is leaking as well. Found it when I installed Rubicon shocks and Springs. My jl never had this issue. Come to think of it I was just driving it the other day my JT that is and I was having issues with 4th gear revving very high before moving into 5th. Is it a coincidence?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!
So on Monday, I called Stellantis Case Management the Jeep Chrysler Case Management. She told me that the part was coming in today. Well, I called the dealership and said that they got the part in. They just need to get it and install it. It would be a couple of more days. I'm like oh ok I guess. Well, the dealership calls me back in 1.5 hrs saying that the jeep is ready. They changed the shaft. He said it had to do with loose bearings. I am not a mechanic so Idk know what that means. Anywho I go to the dealership and they give me paperwork saying that the shaft was changed and explained the loose bearings issue. I don't trust dealerships, but should I worry that they didn't change anything and just typed it up, or did they really change it? Thanks

They must return some parts under warranty. Not all, but some. I bet in this case it has to go back. My steering gear had to go back. There's some tracking that goes on with the paperwork. If they want to get their money, they have to do certain things.

 

[JocelynOrr]

Update:

After having the repair done, leak reappearing, being told it was the vent and then residual water (4 visits total). We put it on the hoist, cleaned everything up, and took this picture about 24 hours later. Chrysler Canada said dealerships are independently owned and they "can't force a diagnosis". So looks like I will be driving twice to the next closest dealership (approx. 2 hrs Way) to get diagnosed and fixed ?‍

 

[JocelynOrr]

Update:

After having the repair done, leak reappearing, being told it was the vent and then residual water (4 visits total). We put it on the hoist, cleaned everything up, and took this picture about 24 hours later. Chrysler Canada said dealerships are independently owned and they "can't force a diagnosis". So looks like I will be driving twice to the next closest dealership (approx. 2 hrs Way) to get diagnosed and fixed ?‍

Edit: Sport S 80th Anniversary Edition

 

[ZSum73]

My biggest issue is how can the dealer figure out if it's a seal issue vs overfill from factory or vent issue? I mean you can check the level of fluid and possibly the vent, but do they do this prior to pulling it apart?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My biggest issue is how can the dealer figure out if it's a seal issue vs overfill from factory or vent issue? I mean you can check the level of fluid and possibly the vent, but do they do this prior to pulling it apart?

Factory overfill? Don't know how you overfill these since it's full when the fluid runs out the fill hole and you'd have to have it tipped forward and keep filling it and put the plug in. In the vehicle to check for that is so simple I bet my grandson could do it - pull the fill plug out - if fluid runs out it's too full, if fluid doesn't run out, it's not too full. 30 second check.
Not sure how they'd get one too full - keep pumping and put the plug in super fast before the extra runs out?

If the vent passes air - it's not plugged or a problem. These don't heat up in seconds - it's not like they need to pass 100 cubic feet of air in 2 minutes.

IF it's leaking it's almost always an issue with the seal area - that can mean shaft, seal, bearing, etc. but in all the years I've worked on cars/trucks/differentials/transmissions, checking the vent was as simple as looking at it or blowing air through it. There was a nipple on the axle tube, a hose on the nipple running up into a frame area or high up on the chassis and a simple check valve at the end of the hose. That, too, was about a 30 second check. These are not that sort of vent any more but still about as easy to check.

In other words, there's about 3 possible issues - fill, vent, seal/bearing/axle.
The first is all but impossible unless you are really trying hard to over-fill, the second unlikely but takes seconds to check, and that leaves you with the axle seal area (seal, bearing or axle itself, perhaps even AXLE TUBE issue)

 

[ZSum73]

Factory overfill? Don't know how you overfill these since it's full when the fluid runs out the fill hole and you'd have to have it tipped forward and keep filling it and put the plug in. In the vehicle to check for that is so simple I bet my grandson could do it - pull the fill plug out - if fluid runs out it's too full, if fluid doesn't run out, it's not too full. 30 second check.
Not sure how they'd get one too full - keep pumping and put the plug in super fast before the extra runs out?

If the vent passes air - it's not plugged or a problem. These don't heat up in seconds - it's not like they need to pass 100 cubic feet of air in 2 minutes.

IF it's leaking it's almost always an issue with the seal area - that can mean shaft, seal, bearing, etc. but in all the years I've worked on cars/trucks/differentials/transmissions, checking the vent was as simple as looking at it or blowing air through it. There was a nipple on the axle tube, a hose on the nipple running up into a frame area or high up on the chassis and a simple check valve at the end of the hose. That, too, was about a 30 second check. These are not that sort of vent any more but still about as easy to check.

In other words, there's about 3 possible issues - fill, vent, seal/bearing/axle.
The first is all but impossible unless you are really trying hard to over-fill, the second unlikely but takes seconds to check, and that leaves you with the axle seal area (seal, bearing or axle itself, perhaps even AXLE TUBE issue)

Thank you for the insight. I'll check the first 2 and leave the 3rd to them. My dealer says they have not seen any others with this issue as of yet.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thank you for the insight. I'll check the first 2 and leave the 3rd to them. My dealer says they have not seen any others with this issue as of yet.

Unless it drips on the driveway or on the garage floor, or the owner is under there for some other reason, or the owner is a forum member, they may have a leak and not be aware.
So I could see how some dealers maybe haven't seen certain issues .......... yet.

 

[AXG1040]

Unless it drips on the driveway or on the garage floor, or the owner is under there for some other reason, or the owner is a forum member, they may have a leak and not be aware.
So I could see how some dealers maybe haven't seen certain issues .......... yet.

Agree 100%. I was the first at my dealer a few weeks ago. I only caught mine due to this post. So minor I wouldn’t have seen it till I took off the wheel or crawled under there for something else.

 

[ZSum73]

So I've been reading jeep blogs, many other bits of info on axle seal leaks and talking to my mechanic friends, and it does seem diffs can be over filled as they should not be filled to the fill hole, but about
1cm below it at axle tube level and the new gore valves can be restrictive in comparison to free flow valves, but offer much better protection for off road use. Pressure can cause axle seals to weep or leak due to them being the weakest spot when pressure builds up. So there could be a combination of issues, and in these blog posts some had leaks that slowed or stopped after leaks began, prior to repair and or after changing the valve or modifying it. Some continued to have leaks after repair/replacement of the axle shaft. I can only wonder if it's the valve and slightly over filled diffs and the seal on the passenger side just being the weakest spot. The gore valve is quite restrictive when I removed mine to check it out and my diff flowed out about 2-3 oz. when I removed the fill plug until it was level with the fill hole on flat ground. Checked with a level. Idk. I didn't drive mine for 3 days Temps were 90-100 degrees checked each day was completely dry, temp dropped to 60s and I checked day 4 and had some leakage again without moving it. Could temp changes outside cause enough pressure to make it weep? Wish FCA would figure it out. @JeepCares Any new info on this problem?

 

[Gladiator Greg]

I've got the same problem, 21 Willy's. Parts are on order, should be about 2 weeks.

Irritating, but at least they are fixing it. Think they would upgrade me to a locking diff for the inconvenience?

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