Leaking axle seal?

[darkhorse13]

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.

Keep us posted. As others have said, this might not be the "cure" but it for sure took care of my issue. Just got back from a 12hour round trip from Denver to Telluride and still not a single wet spot on my driver side. I'm getting an OEM front breather (white cap) from a fellow member here to put on the back in the next week or so. Hopefully it behaves as well as the current setup with zero filtration.

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[rharr]

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.

it's good to know a axle guy! ?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

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.

They don't need to vent fast. The expansion due to heat build-up is slow and the seal can easily handle up to around 7psi depending on the seal.
Not that they can't "plug" but not being able to quickly blow air through this type of membrane isn't a problem.
The problem with not running one is moisture build-up in the housing....... and microscopic dust and grip pulled in - even highway driving is stirring up a lot of dust. I'd sure want a filter there.
Amazing what I see inside the vent hoses of some older cars and trucks that have simple "vents" in the end.

And really removing it doesn't prove it's the vent - could still be a bad seal, you just took the load off of it that any GOOD seal should easily handle. Its like saying I fixed the leaky bucket by only filling it half full. No, you took the load off it. It may not leak, or leak as bad, but if only ONE side is leaking, doesn't that make one wonder about that side while the other side holds fine?

 

[CrazyCooter]

it's good to know a axle guy! ?

That's a play on words? Good to know an axle guy, but you don't know a good axle guy? ?

 

[bailer]

They don't need to vent fast. The expansion due to heat build-up is slow and the seal can easily handle up to around 7psi depending on the seal.
Not that they can't "plug" but not being able to quickly blow air through this type of membrane isn't a problem.
The problem with not running one is moisture build-up in the housing....... and microscopic dust and grip pulled in - even highway driving is stirring up a lot of dust. I'd sure want a filter there.
Amazing what I see inside the vent hoses of some older cars and trucks that have simple "vents" in the end.

And really removing it doesn't prove it's the vent - could still be a bad seal, you just took the load off of it that any GOOD seal should easily handle. Its like saying I fixed the leaky bucket by only filling it half full. No, you took the load off it. It may not leak, or leak as bad, but if only ONE side is leaking, doesn't that make one wonder about that side while the other side holds fine?

I did put the multiple layers of felt pads back in place and so feel comfortable about dust, just not moisture.

I think an inadequate vent would always leak from one side only, because the excess pressure is quickly mitigated.

 

[Mojave2021]

If you’re still under warranty I highly recommend getting the full rear axle housing replaced. Mine was replaced about 18 months back and it hasn’t leaked since.

 

[rharr]

If you’re still under warranty I highly recommend getting the full rear axle housing replaced. Mine was replaced about 18 months back and it hasn’t leaked since.

Replace the entire axle because of a bad seal install? Seem like cutting your arm off cause you got a mosquito bite.

 

[Mojave2021]

Replace the entire axle because of a bad seal install? Seem like cutting your arm off cause you got a mosquito bite.

That is what the dealer did after replacing just the right side axle assembly didn’t fix the issue 2x.

 

[bailer]

Keep us posted. As others have said, this might not be the "cure" but it for sure took care of my issue. Just got back from a 12hour round trip from Denver to Telluride and still not a single wet spot on my driver side. I'm getting an OEM front breather (white cap) from a fellow member here to put on the back in the next week or so. Hopefully it behaves as well as the current setup with zero filtration.

I used brake cleaner and got my right rear dust shield cleaned up. Appears to be a very minor leak. Perhaps the increased venting will prevent future leaks. Not sure how I plan to waterproof the vent (I removed the membrane while inspecting it). Could use k&n filter skin as a membrane, or perhaps just buy an original replacement and keep an eye on things.

Be careful using the front diff vent in the rear. The front appears to rely on gravity to close and must be oriented upwards. The rear hose can conceivably be submerged and is horizontal, thus the reason for the different style.

 

[Jimbos]

Looks like I’m joining the club. Noticed the leak when I changed my oil over the weekend. Dealer confirmed, ordered the kit and hopefully will get it done early next week.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Replace the entire axle because of a bad seal install? Seem like cutting your arm off cause you got a mosquito bite.

They did early on fairly often because Jeep wasn't sure of the cause. When you don't know if it's the axle shaft or the housing that's the cause, its cheaper to just replace it. And it could be that DANA told them to handle it that way. It's a Dana issue, not a Jeep issue.

 

[TheGerman]

Guess I joined the club today too. Just failed VA State Inspection due to the axel seal leak, it has only 23k miles on it. Jeep dealership told me the bring in the truck on Monday. Crossing my fingers that they can fix it fast as we're planning to go on 2500 miles roadtrip starting next Saturday. If they want to replace the axel housing I might be in trouble

 

[Hootbro]

Guess I joined the club today too. Just failed VA State Inspection due to the axel seal leak, it has only 23k miles on it. Jeep dealership told me the bring in the truck on Monday. Crossing my fingers that they can fix it fast as we're planning to go on 2500 miles roadtrip starting next Saturday. If they want to replace the axel housing I might be in trouble

If the leak is just staining and not a active dripping leak, you probably have been running with it for some time then. You can probably get away just checking and topping the fluid level off.

 

[2wheeltinker]

Just checking in, I’m now on my second set of replacement axle shafts (reasons unrelated to the axle seal) and they have been fine as well. Heavy, and I mean very heavy wheeling.

so stock shafts from assembly, leaked. Replaced with Dana spicer chromoly, no leaks for 20 thousand miles. Replaced with Yukon about 5k ago, no leaks.

at least in my case, this was an OEM assembly issue.

 

[bailer]

Keep us posted. As others have said, this might not be the "cure" but it for sure took care of my issue. Just got back from a 12hour round trip from Denver to Telluride and still not a single wet spot on my driver side. I'm getting an OEM front breather (white cap) from a fellow member here to put on the back in the next week or so. Hopefully it behaves as well as the current setup with zero filtration.

Update on my right rear leak:
The axle is no longer leaking after removing the restrictive membrane on axle vent.

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