Am I looking at a new drive shaft?

[313IFD]

I was performing a routine oil change on my 2022 JTR which just crossed 70,000 miles and noticed the grease/oil on my drive shaft. I panicked and checked everything above in the engine compartment and believe it's not from above. Am I looking at typically just seals or a whole new shaft, etc.? I d a little 2-tracking in the woods, but nothing serious off road. My JKUL went 200k miles and never had an issue with the shaft. How quickly am I going to need to address this?

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[Dweisman429]

It looks like there has been oil on it but it doesn't look wet exactly and it doesn't look like it has been slinging oil all over either.

Did you check oil level recently, as in before the oil change?

Is it possible that it has spilled when putting the fresh oil in last time?

Do you recall any smoke or smell of oil burning off the last oil change?

I would also see if the dshaft was loose or sloppy...the slip, both u-joints and at the t-case and axle...both the flange mounts and the shft from the other two. Id say that is not likely, but easy to check

 

[Jaxmax]

The oil pattern is weird on the front driveshaft if it feels tight why not clean it all off and see if it truly is from the driveshaft, perhaps running in 4WD a bit also…Jack

 

[313IFD]

I'm so unbelievably appreciative of the feedback. I saw the stain and panicked. I was smart enough to look up thoroughly and confirm it did not come from above. I also check the oil-level before I change it or have someone else. The rest of the symptoms: no smoke, no burn smell, not sloppy/loose.
Now for the stupid-on-me part.... I had 5 dots of sticky substance on my garage floor 2 months ago and was ecstatic to determine it was just my driver's front shock. Extreme Terrain got me a set of Rancho's a couple days later and problem solved. I know the drive shaft did not look like it does today, when I swapped the shocks, but I'm thinking a few spray drips may have gotten to the drive shaft. I'll clean with a mild detergent, recheck in a week and report back.

 

[Janster]

They sent you Rancho’s?? I surely hope Rancho‘s quality has improved since my younger years.

We used to call them RONCHO’s…….. and yea, had them, they leaked, replacements leaked…. and anyone I know who had them, they leaked. Never again.

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