Leaking axle seal?

[glassjawkid32]

it comes as a 7 piece replacement kit cost 374$ which is ridiculous for a seal but something tells me someone under milled a bunch of axles causing the leaks and not actually a faulty seal

I suspected that too but mine seems to be doing fine after the initial repair.

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[XJamesX]

Took my Jeep in for an oil change/tire rotation today at 18k miles and they found my passenger rear axle seal is leaking. Waiting for an update on how long it’ll take for parts To arrive. They were also “suggesting“ changing the pads/rotor but that was before they realized it is under warranty and I’m not footing the bill.

 

[Vtur]

Took my Jeep in for an oil change/tire rotation today at 18k miles and they found my passenger rear axle seal is leaking. Waiting for an update on how long it’ll take for parts To arrive. They were also “suggesting“ changing the pads/rotor but that was before they realized it is under warranty and I’m not footing the bill.

Yup press them to replaces both disc brake/drum pads and rotor too.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

it comes as a 7 piece replacement kit cost 374$ which is ridiculous for a seal but something tells me someone under milled a bunch of axles causing the leaks and not actually a faulty seal

All total speculation (besides, it's all CNC these days)
No one knows. Jeep does axle shaft assembly replacements for warranty repairs because its' cheaper and easier and they'd be replacing the bearings anyway. It takes time for a tech to take the bearing off, swap seals, press on a new bearing. Likely a similar cost, but with the whole axle shaft being replaced, there's no room for screw-ups. Not sure some of these guys these days could to a bearing or seal replacement. I've done so many dozens of axles and differentials I've lost track over the years - got really super good at slicing a bearing off and not hurting the shaft at all, and putting things back together without issue. First few dozen were in a shop without a press, got 'er done. (I have press and such in my own shop as well as carrier bearing remover and other fun stuff)
Anyway, I'd rather they swap the whole thing than to rely on a slow tech removing and pressing on new bearings. We don't know if it's the seal, the axle or the axle housing/tube that's at fault.

 

[danimal2000]

Took my Jeep in for an oil change/tire rotation today at 18k miles and they found my passenger rear axle seal is leaking. Waiting for an update on how long it’ll take for parts To arrive. They were also “suggesting“ changing the pads/rotor but that was before they realized it is under warranty and I’m not footing the bill.

I'm sitting at dealer right now and just got the same passenger rear axle seal leaking news, 19k miles. I assume this is covered under warranty?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm sitting at dealer right now and just got the same passenger rear axle seal leaking news, 19k miles. I assume this is covered under warranty?

Should be part of the drive train warranty.

 

[danimal2000]

Yep all good its covered

 

[darkhorse13]

Just bumping this back up in terms of the rear breather tube/filter discussion. I have a 2020 JTR and my rear passenger axle seal started leaking badly around 45K. At 40K I did have a 5.13 re-gear performed for reference. I had my shop luckily find a Mopar replacement quickly (no Dana Spicer chromoly available) and it is no longer leaking. Fast forward to 46k I noticed my driver side starting to leak, although less severe than passenger. I came across this thread (particularly post #151+) about a blocked rear diff breather filter. So I decided to check mine out and man-o-man was it gummed up with fluid and those "cotton membranes" where trashed. I removed the cap, ripped off the gore liner, took out the cotton, popped the cap back on and tested the line off the truck with some compressed air -> free flowing.

I then cleaned up the gear oil on the driver side (didn't replace the axle or even take it out to inspect) with some brake cleaner and drove for 45min at highway speeds to really warm things up. Low and behold, zero leaks and no gear oil in sight around the driver side now. I speculate that the clogged diff breather may likely have caused the passenger side issue in the first place. Once the passenger side was replaced with a new shaft/seal, I then think the pressure had to find a new "escape" and targeted the driver side. Now that the pressure has an outlet I think the axle seals will be happier. I need to get a proper breather filter now and I'll likely just get the same non-cotton style as the front diff breather as long as the hose diameter is the same.

Anywho, just sharing my experience.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Anyway, I'd rather they swap the whole thing than to rely on a slow tech removing and pressing on new bearings. We don't know if it's the seal, the axle or the axle housing/tube that's at fault.

Funnily enough when I had a WJ grand cherokee with the D44 rear end I had to replace the rear axle seals (both passenger and driver) but at different times. Instead of paying a shop to cut off/press on new seals (no garage of my own at that time) i'd go to the local junk yard and find one with less miles than mine and no apparent leaks, pull the whole shaft, swap it out, and be on my way. Did that twice and both were still fine many thousands of miles later ?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Funnily enough when I had a WJ grand cherokee with the D44 rear end I had to replace the rear axle seals (both passenger and driver) but at different times. Instead of paying a shop to cut off/press on new seals (no garage of my own at that time) i'd go to the local junk yard and find one with less miles than mine and no apparent leaks, pull the whole shaft, swap it out, and be on my way. Did that twice and both were still fine many thousands of miles later ?

I did the right one on my 2004 WJ that has 124,000 miles on it. They should easily make it that far. The thing was over 20 years old.
Pretty easy process on those. Biggest thing was all the lube all over things.....

 

[darkhorse13]

I did the right one on my 2004 WJ that has 124,000 miles on it. They should easily make it that far. The thing was over 20 years old.
Pretty easy process on those. Biggest thing was all the lube all over things.....

I saved the old axle to hopefully do the cut/press new bearing and seal one day. What I'm being told is that the individual parts are not available for the JT to do this. My shop checked with their supplier about using the JL rear bearing and seal but apparently it's not the same? If anyone has specific part numbers to share please do so as I'd like to try my hand at a rebuild.

FWIW these are the (2) bad spots on my seal...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I saved the old axle to hopefully do the cut/press new bearing and seal one day. What I'm being told is that the individual parts are not available for the JT to do this. My shop checked with their supplier about using the JL rear bearing and seal but apparently it's not the same? If anyone has specific part numbers to share please do so as I'd like to try my hand at a rebuild.

FWIW these are the (2) bad spots on my seal...

Yeah, you have to buy the axle with bearing and seal for the JT last I knew. But for the older 44s, you can get almost any part you want - bearing, seal, whatever.

 

[rharr]

I saved the old axle to hopefully do the cut/press new bearing and seal one day. What I'm being told is that the individual parts are not available for the JT to do this. My shop checked with their supplier about using the JL rear bearing and seal but apparently it's not the same? If anyone has specific part numbers to share please do so as I'd like to try my hand at a rebuild.

FWIW these are the (2) bad spots on my seal...

Pull the bearing and seal and take them to a bearing supply house to see if they can cross reference them. The bearing should have some text lasered into it for the bearing house to use. the seal they can measure and find a match.

https://www.skf.com/us/products/industrial-seals/power-transmission-seals/radial-shaft-seals

 

[bailer]

Just bumping this back up in terms of the rear breather tube/filter discussion. I have a 2020 JTR and my rear passenger axle seal started leaking badly around 45K. At 40K I did have a 5.13 re-gear performed for reference. I had my shop luckily find a Mopar replacement quickly (no Dana Spicer chromoly available) and it is no longer leaking. Fast forward to 46k I noticed my driver side starting to leak, although less severe than passenger. I came across this thread (particularly post #151+) about a blocked rear diff breather filter. So I decided to check mine out and man-o-man was it gummed up with fluid and those "cotton membranes" where trashed. I removed the cap, ripped off the gore liner, took out the cotton, popped the cap back on and tested the line off the truck with some compressed air -> free flowing.

I then cleaned up the gear oil on the driver side (didn't replace the axle or even take it out to inspect) with some brake cleaner and drove for 45min at highway speeds to really warm things up. Low and behold, zero leaks and no gear oil in sight around the driver side now. I speculate that the clogged diff breather may likely have caused the passenger side issue in the first place. Once the passenger side was replaced with a new shaft/seal, I then think the pressure had to find a new "escape" and targeted the driver side. Now that the pressure has an outlet I think the axle seals will be happier. I need to get a proper breather filter now and I'll likely just get the same non-cotton style as the front diff breather as long as the hose diameter is the same.

Anywho, just sharing my experience.

Based on your experience, I decided to check my rear diff breather. I removed the hose at the diff and tried to blow through it, impossible. I then removed the top vent assembly and couldn’t blow through it. I then pulled apart the vent assembly. The white membrane looked clean so I ripped it off to inspect the felt pads below it, which were also clean. It seems the waterproof membrane is extremely slow to vent air. I’m unsure if this was the problem but have put the assembly back in place minus the membrane. I will clean up the oil at the wheel and keep an eye on things. My leak was very slow so I am hopeful. If it works I will get a more free flowing water resistant breather.

 

[CrazyCooter]

Pull the bearing and seal and take them to a bearing supply house to see if they can cross reference them. The bearing should have some text lasered into it for the bearing house to use. the seal they can measure and find a match.

https://www.skf.com/us/products/industrial-seals/power-transmission-seals/radial-shaft-seals

Call West Coast Differentials and order an AK D44JL kit. Comes with bearing, seal, and retainer.

I'm going to start carrying one under the seat on road trips because nobody seems to have a listing for the bearing/seal combo locally.

*Update: "SET80" bearing kit
10026762 seal

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