Leaking axle seal?

[Gladman]

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[Mouse]

Afraid my Mojave is starting to show signs of this same leakage on the passenger side rear axle. So far just seepage & not dripping yet. Build date was 2/21/21.

Just out of curiosity, I disconnected the vent hose at the axle fitting. Like you I discovered there is excessive resistance to both blowing & drawing air through the hose, though it can be done. Just way, way more effort than you would expect for a case vent of this type on an axle or transmission.

Next removed the plastic vent cap assembly (pictured below) at the top end of the hose attached to the truck bed framing, and it is the source of the restriction.

Popped the cover off of the end of it, and found that there is some sort of paper type membrane completely covering the end of the vent housing. This doesn't seem right to me at all.

Are there any Chrysler/Jeep techs on this forum that would know if this is normally the way these are constructed & if so why?
It seems that this could cause excessive pressure buildup in the axle housing as the gear oil warms up, and very possibly be a contributing factor to this rash of axle seals leaking.

Just for comparison, I looked at the vent hose & cap for the front axle on the driver side spring tower (shown below). This one is the style that I am familiar with seeing used on vehicles, being just a plastic fitting with a loose fitting cap that allows unrestricted air flow.

I again removed the hose at the front axle fitting to test this one, and it has no resistance at all to both blowing or drawing air through the hose & vent cap.

Interested to hear what you guys think.

If "Jeep Cares" sees this post, maybe they can pass it on to whoever at Jeep might have an answer.

I wonder if the vent restriction is contributing to the rubicon axle sensor failure as well

 

[gpwrang33]

So i noticed the leak on mine a week before this thread and have been watching this thread since it was started. i was wonder how would you know if you have a limited slip installed? yes the build sheet would say it has it but what indication on the axel would there be. i'm just worried if they do have to swap the whole axel assembly how would you know they put the correct axel back in? does it indicate 4.10 gears also? just looking for information to look for after the repair. hear horror stories about people going to get parts replaced by dealers and come to find out they didn't put the same part back in.

 

[just_another_guy]

They shouldn't be replacing the whole axle, it should be the right side axle assembly that includes the axle shaft and seal

 

[Killroy Was Here]

So i noticed the leak on mine a week before this thread and have been watching this thread since it was started. i was wonder how would you know if you have a limited slip installed? yes the build sheet would say it has it but what indication on the axel would there be. i'm just worried if they do have to swap the whole axel assembly how would you know they put the correct axel back in? does it indicate 4.10 gears also? just looking for information to look for after the repair. hear horror stories about people going to get parts replaced by dealers and come to find out they didn't put the same part back in.

They use your vehicle's VIN# when they order parts to help insure they get what your truck was originally built with.

Finally was able to drop my Mojave off last Saturday for the pass. side axle leak. They are replacing the axle shaft w/seal & bearing assy. Supposed to arrive on Tuesday for the fix.

 

[NCLife]

I found some oil in the drivers side rear wheel. Dropped it off last Wednesday before I headed out of town. They found a leak and were able to get an axle from another dealer in their network. They replaced it while I was gone. I pick it up tomorrow. I have about 3k miles on it, a spacer lift and 37’s FWIW. MDH - 061701

 

[Bumpy Ride]

I’m back!!! Frustrating…. Discovered some oil inside my Drivers side front wheel. Calling dealership tomorrow to bring it in. Just had my rear axle replaced.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So i noticed the leak on mine a week before this thread and have been watching this thread since it was started. i was wonder how would you know if you have a limited slip installed? yes the build sheet would say it has it but what indication on the axel would there be. i'm just worried if they do have to swap the whole axel assembly how would you know they put the correct axel back in? does it indicate 4.10 gears also? just looking for information to look for after the repair. hear horror stories about people going to get parts replaced by dealers and come to find out they didn't put the same part back in.

AXLE, not DIFFERENTIAL.
People use the wrong term. Axle is the shaft, differential is the whole assembly that includes axles..

 

[Gladman]

Here is an update I got from my dealer today.
They have the RR axle shaft/seal in stock now.
The LF axle shaft is in Canada customs about 100 km away. Maybe delivered this week.

The kicker? The reason for changing the LF axle shaft is that the installed axle is too short. So this leads me to believe someone at Dana put a 44 series axle in an M210 housing. Also, according to the tech that attended my inquiry with the service writer, the front housing does not need a new axle if there is a seal leak as opposed to the rear which will require an axle shaft with pre-installed seal.

I fail to see how putting the wrong axle shaft in a housing is even possible on a modern production line. It makes no sense that the shafts are stored willy-nilly and a worker can just stuff the wrong one in. Given the fact that I have been waiting a month for this shaft I believe the wrong shaft was installed intentionally to get the vehicle to the customer, and deal with the consequences later. It is the only explanation that makes logical sense to me. I hope you are reading this FCA/FCC/Stellantis. Get your shit together with your suppliers so that your customers are pleased with service, and not pissed at your collective incompetence and ethical shortcomings.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Here is an update I got from my dealer today.
They have the RR axle shaft/seal in stock now.
The LF axle shaft is in Canada customs about 100 km away. Maybe delivered this week.

The kicker? The reason for changing the LF axle shaft is that the installed axle is too short. So this leads me to believe someone at Dana put a 44 series axle in an M210 housing. Also, according to the tech that attended my inquiry with the service writer, the front housing does not need a new axle if there is a seal leak as opposed to the rear which will require an axle shaft with pre-installed seal.

I fail to see how putting the wrong axle shaft in a housing is even possible on a modern production line. It makes no sense that the shafts are stored willy-nilly and a worker can just stuff the wrong one in. Given the fact that I have been waiting a month for this shaft I believe the wrong shaft was installed intentionally to get the vehicle to the customer, and deal with the consequences later. It is the only explanation that makes logical sense to me. I hope you are reading this FCA/FCC/Stellantis. Get your shit together with your suppliers so that your customers are pleased with service, and not pissed at your collective incompetence and ethical shortcomings.

An axle that's too short would simply not engage fully in the carrier gear splines. Without an axle in hand, can't see how length has anything to do with anything as far as leaking.
The bearing and seal boss on the axle is on the outboard end, and length can't impact that unless they were machined incorrectly.

Here's a typical axle configuration - hub (integral part of axle), retainer, seal, bearing (either ball bearing or tapered roller bearing), retainer (in most cases, not all)
If the axle is too short, it simply won't engage as deep into the carrier side gear splines, but the seal area would be the same.

 

[Gladman]

An axle that's too short would simply not engage fully in the carrier gear splines. Without an axle in hand, can't see how length has anything to do with anything as far as leaking.
The bearing and seal boss on the axle is on the outboard end, and length can't impact that unless they were machined incorrectly.

Here's a typical axle configuration - hub (integral part of axle), retainer, seal, bearing (either ball bearing or tapered roller bearing), retainer (in most cases, not all)
If the axle is too short, it simply won't engage as deep into the carrier side gear splines, but the seal area would be the same.

No, you misunderstood my problem with the LF axle area. It was not leaking but had a grinding/whining noise.
That is separate and distinct to the RR axle leak.

I got into the conversation with the tech because when he said the axle was too short I enquired about the stats of the hub, and didn’t want to wait another month for more parts once disassembled.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

No, you misunderstood my problem with the LF axle area. It was not leaking but had a grinding/whining noise.
That is separate and distinct to the RR axle leak.

I got into the conversation with the tech because when he said the axle was too short I enquired about the stats of the hub, and didn’t want to wait another month for more parts once disassembled.

AH, Gotcha.
Here's what can happen with axles that aren't exactly right - the end busted off.......
Get 'er fixed. ;-)

 

[Gladman]

Yes, and I suppose this is why they put a vehicle down status on it to limit further damage.
To me, waiting a month for an axle shaft is unacceptable. It is not Covid related, but a business decision to keep poking out factory vehicles instead of using parts to repair sold product.
Meantime, there may be hundreds or thousands of parked in completed vehicles due to the semi-conductor shortage. This is just lazy customer service.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, and I suppose this is why they put a vehicle down status on it to limit further damage.
To me, waiting a month for an axle shaft is unacceptable. It is not Covid related, but a business decision to keep poking out factory vehicles instead of using parts to repair sold product.
Meantime, there may be hundreds or thousands of parked in completed vehicles due to the semi-conductor shortage. This is just lazy customer service.

Crazy that they can't get the axle from their supplier of differentials/axles...... I wonder if a person can look that part up online and order it? If so - I'd be giving them some grief.
I hear ya - and I absolutely get your frustration

 

[gpwrang33]

AXLE, not DIFFERENTIAL.
People use the wrong term. Axle is the shaft, differential is the whole assembly that includes axles..

First off, why are you yelling at me?? i was one of the ones wondering where you have been but not anymore lol
and second go yell at quadratec or mopar for calling this an axel assembly. if you read through the thread some people where saying the dealer was having to replace the whole assembly and some where having just the seal and shaft replaced. i'm just asking if there are some identifying marks on the outside of the assembly to make sure (if the dealer replaces it) its the same one. So since you are someone who knows a lot maybe you can answer my question.

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