Leaking axle seal?

[ShadowsPapa]

New guy here, just bought my 2022 less than 2 weeks ago. Really didn't want this to be my first post,...but add me to the list of leaking axle seals.. About to stop by the dealership.

OK, I hate to see this, and am sorry you are also experiencing this, but you have just answered one question I had.

= "do any 2022 model year Gladiators have the right axle leak".

Yes.

So, 2020 = no right axle leak
2021 and 2022 = yes, right axle leak
Can't order new parts, in engineering for a fix.

Now my question is - why does this have to go to engineering? The answer lies in 2020.
Why are they not reaching back, determining "what changed" using their change control or revision control and fix what changed, or even step back in time with Mr. Peabody for the answer to the leak.
It didn't leak in 2020.
It does leak in 2021 and 2022
What changed? There's a paper trail, get your reading glasses on up there in engineering.

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[onebad427]

That sucks. What is the mileage?

460 miles.....

 

[onebad427]

OK, I hate to see this, and am sorry you are also experiencing this, but you have just answered one question I had.

= "do any 2022 model year Gladiators have the right axle leak".

Yes.

So, 2020 = no right axle leak
2021 and 2022 = yes, right axle leak
Can't order new parts, in engineering for a fix.

Now my question is - why does this have to go to engineering? The answer lies in 2020.
Why are they not reaching back, determining "what changed" using their change control or revision control and fix what changed, or even step back in time with Mr. Peabody for the answer to the leak.
It didn't leak in 2020.
It does leak in 2021 and 2022
What changed? There's a paper trail, get your reading glasses on up there in engineering.

Dealer told me parts will be available on June 1st. It's not leaking bad enough (yet) to make it undrivable.

 

[cb4017]

Quick update on mine. Over 11,000 miles since it was fixed. Just crawled under to take a look at it.
No leak. (Yea!)

 

[Rusty PW]

OK, I hate to see this, and am sorry you are also experiencing this, but you have just answered one question I had.

= "do any 2022 model year Gladiators have the right axle leak".

Yes.

So, 2020 = no right axle leak
2021 and 2022 = yes, right axle leak
Can't order new parts, in engineering for a fix.

Now my question is - why does this have to go to engineering? The answer lies in 2020.
Why are they not reaching back, determining "what changed" using their change control or revision control and fix what changed, or even step back in time with Mr. Peabody for the answer to the leak.
It didn't leak in 2020.
It does leak in 2021 and 2022
What changed? There's a paper trail, get your reading glasses on up there in engineering.

CNC programing? Something is out of tolerance and passed through QC.

Another question. Which models are leaks? Rubi's, Max Tow's, Mojave, Sports, Sport S, etc. And how many in each model? Is it the standard axles or wide axles, or both?

I have 2,200 miles now. No leaks.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Query for the folks affected who are familiar with the lemon law. My understanding is 3 attempts at a fix and it’s a clean case. If that’s true, what do I need to do other than ensure proper acknowledgment of the leak on my visit next week? My local dealership has been great, I don’t get the sense that they’d intentionally try to abstract the issue away undocumented but we will be moving soon and despite loving my truck, we simply can’t deal with 3x rounds not it burning up while crossing the country back and forth while we nail bucket list items. Kids, work, active lifestyle etc.

What does that look like too when, in a few cases such as mine, they literally can’t order the part? Is there some cap, say 6 months or something?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

I did look up lemon laws in my state and from what I can tell mine qualifies. It’s nice to know that it could be an option should I actually need it but I wouldn’t go that route personally. I custom ordered mine exactly the way I wanted it at the beginning of 2021 before there was a crazy car shortage and the market wasn’t insane yet. I had factory rebates, purchased it below MSRP, and have a great interest rate on the loan. If I got rid of the truck at this point it would put me in a worse financial position (it’s my DD so I would have to buy something in this market). If I sold it myself then I would probably actually make a little money but then what? I am banking on them figuring this problem out and getting it fixed and that’s the end of it. As long as it’s under warranty I can wait. Time will tell…

 

[NachoRuby]

Which models are leaks? Rubi's, Max Tow's, Mojave, Sports, Sport S, etc. And how many in each model? Is it the standard axles or wide axles, or both?

I have 2,200 miles now. No leaks.

Both. All models are leaking. I'm at I think 8000 since mine was fixed though. So far so good. 2021/Rubicon

 

[ShadowsPapa]

CNC programing? Something is out of tolerance and passed through QC.

Another question. Which models are leaks? Rubi's, Max Tow's, Mojave, Sports, Sport S, etc. And how many in each model? Is it the standard axles or wide axles, or both?

I have 2,200 miles now. No leaks.

IF I recall correctly, it's been a mix of models, wide and standard axles, Sport, Rubicon, whatever.

Just baffling as heck. 2020 no leak, 2021 and 2022 leak.


Just checked. I went through a couple dozen pages of this thread, browsing for models -
Sport Max tow - leak.
Rubicon - leak
Mojave - leak
Overland - leak

But - not everyone has their "trim level" in their profile, some simply say "Jeep JT" (well, DUH) so I can't say if these are OVERLAND or HIGH ALTITUDE which is technically an Overland with the HA package which includes wide axles.
One member posted he had the leak and his was simply listed as "Overland" so - the majority seem to be the wide axle but I do see a couple that appear to actually be "Overland".

 

[onebad427]

I did look up lemon laws in my state and from what I can tell mine qualifies. It’s nice to know that it could be an option should I actually need it but I wouldn’t go that route personally. I custom ordered mine exactly the way I wanted it at the beginning of 2021 before there was a crazy car shortage and the market wasn’t insane yet. I had factory rebates, purchased it below MSRP, and have a great interest rate on the loan. If I got rid of the truck at this point it would put me in a worse financial position (it’s my DD so I would have to buy something in this market). If I sold it myself then I would probably actually make a little money but then what? I am banking on them figuring this problem out and getting it fixed and that’s the end of it. As long as it’s under warranty I can wait. Time will tell…

Lemon law doesn't always mean you have to get rid of the vehicle. I had an issue with a PT Crusier years ago, and Chrysler ended up finally getting it fixed, and refunded $2000 of my purchase price for all the trouble.

 

[staying_tuned]

Not sure if directly related to the axle leak but today I noticed that same rotor has quite a bit of grease below and above where the pad sweeps. I shot it down quite a bit with brake cleaner, the pads are entirely fouled. I thought maybe it was axle oil mixed with grime and thickened, but it’s grease for sure. Wiped it all down, truck goes in first thing in the am.

I wiped at least 2 or 3 heaping tablespoons off, kicking myself for not grabbing a picture. Any idea why it would spew grease out? Would the leak impose increased heat causing some type of expansion or some seal which would normally hold that grease back?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not sure if directly related to the axle leak but today I noticed that same rotor has quite a bit of grease below and above where the pad sweeps. I shot it down quite a bit with brake cleaner, the pads are entirely fouled. I thought maybe it was axle oil mixed with grime and thickened, but it’s grease for sure. Wiped it all down, truck goes in first thing in the am.

I wiped at least 2 or 3 heaping tablespoons off, kicking myself for not grabbing a picture. Any idea why it would spew grease out? Would the leak impose increased heat causing some type of expansion or some seal which would normally hold that grease back?

It's axle (*hypoid gear lube), not "grease" per se. It mixes with dirt and brake dust and gets like wheel bearing grease.
You have the axle seal leak is all that is. There's no grease to "spew" really, it's a slow leak but looks really bad because that lube spreads like crazy and attracts dust and dirt making it look twice as bad.
A leak won't cause heat.
You are seeing dirty axle lube, hypoid gear lube. Not "grease".
There's one seal - in the axle tube sealing against the axle shaft.

 

[ecidiego]

Do you guys think they're coming off the line defective? Perhaps people just don't notice till drips start? Just got under my 9/21 3000 mile Mojave....dry as the Mojave Desert. Crossing fingers.

 

[staying_tuned]

It mixes with dirt and brake dust and gets like wheel bearing grease.

Thanks for the quick response. It’s exactly like bearing grease, I mushed it around in my fingers and it didn’t feel all that gritty but if it was primarily brake dust, I don’t think it would be all that gritty feeling anyhow. Ok great, at least it’s a symptom of the original issue. Thanks again!

 

[Vtur]

Not sure if directly related to the axle leak but today I noticed that same rotor has quite a bit of grease below and above where the pad sweeps. I shot it down quite a bit with brake cleaner, the pads are entirely fouled. I thought maybe it was axle oil mixed with grime and thickened, but it’s grease for sure. Wiped it all down, truck goes in first thing in the am.

I wiped at least 2 or 3 heaping tablespoons off, kicking myself for not grabbing a picture. Any idea why it would spew grease out? Would the leak impose increased heat causing some type of expansion or some seal which would normally hold that grease back?

When i regeared my axles, i did noticed some factory bearing grease mixed with gear oil on the bearing, but not tablespoons though. Maybe it the brake pads copper grease when they installed the pads or your caliper pins grease leaks.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

When i regeared my axles, i did noticed some factory bearing grease mixed with gear oil on the bearing, but not tablespoons though. Maybe it the brake pads copper grease when they installed the pads or your caliper pins grease leaks.

On the rotor above and below the pad path? That's a lot.
Yes, the bearings would likely be greased to provide lube before the lube in the housing gets to them.
I've always used a grease on axle bearings that are lubed by the hypoid gear oil in the differential. Otherwise they start out dry and have no lube until the gear oil gets to them.

There should be no lube of any sort on the rotor, and he's talking a fair amount.

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