Leaking axle seal?

[Axeman]

Further info on this saga, and what a tale of woe this is.
The dealer ordered the axle shaft (more on this shaft later) and the box was delivered by UPS with axle shaft missing. UPS couldn’t find it so FCC ordered another dealer who had the only one in stock in Canada to sent the shaft to my dealer. UPS lost that package at the depot in Calgary, investigation ongoing. Dana is unable to supply the shaft until July 21st - July 30. My gladiator has been parked at the dealer since April 9th.

Now, the axle shaft. I was told the axle shaft in the truck is too short. So let’s take one out of a Rubicon on the lot. Nope, different arrangement. My High Altitude front axle has an approximately 12” stub shaft from the differential to a splined collar and then the main axle shaft to the wheel hub. It is this stub shaft that is too short and waiting for the correct length shaft. I don’t know if this is unique to the diesel with the 210M axle but definitely a Rubicon gasser does not have that arrangement. Possibly because the Rubi has lockers, not sure?

So, now another month will tick by.

This is awful luck man. It's leaking so bad they wouldn't let you take it? You should push to have them make few payments for you since they won't let you take it back.

Sponsored

 

[Axeman]

Wow, this sucks. My first time owning a Jeep. A brand new jeep. The dealership will not keep my jeep till December. Unless they are going to make payments. @JeepCares what is the number to Chrysler something needs to get done. I understand it's not a light switch to turn on factories to double up on parts, but this is ridiculous. Someone needs to own up to it. This is frustrating. I wonder why I have to keep the truck at the dealership when everyone else was allowed to take it home. Is it safe to drive? the service tech told me I could void the warranty if i took back it home. I am just curious what other people were told. Thanks

Was your leaking real bad? Mine was leaking at 300 miles to the point I'd get a small pool of gear oil in the wheel when it was parked. I wasn't able to get it into the busy dealership until around 1k miles at which point the leak was a small seepage that no longer pooled up. They checked the fluid and ordered the axle (still backordered) and allowed me to keep it. It almost seems likes its not leaking at all anymore (close to 2k miles now). The fluid is still full and I no longer get pools of oil in the rim. I think it was overfilled from the factory.

 

[ZSum73]

Checked my 2021 Willys today after seeing this thread and a fb post and saw few oil spots on the inner rim and a small amount on the bottom of the back of the brake shield on passenger rear. Wiped it off and going to watch it. 250 miles is all I have on it. Purchased 6/9/21, build date 04/2021 , MDH# 040801

 

[ZSum73]

Was your leaking real bad? Mine was leaking at 300 miles to the point I'd get a small pool of gear oil in the wheel when it was parked. I wasn't able to get it into the busy dealership until around 1k miles at which point the leak was a small seepage that no longer pooled up. They checked the fluid and ordered the axle (still backordered) and allowed me to keep it. It almost seems likes its not leaking at all anymore (close to 2k miles now). The fluid is still full and I no longer get pools of oil in the rim. I think it was overfilled from the factory.

Would overfill cause enough pressure and cause seepage that would stop and be fine or would you still need replacement? Interesting that it stopped leaking and your levels are fine. Makes me hesitant on going to the dealer and having a new truck pulled apart.

 

[Renegade]

If the right side of the rear axle is leaking in disproportionate numbers, replacing the shaft assembly as the “fix” probably isn’t going to be a permanent solution, as it’s the exact same seal as on the left. In some cases, it’s the exact same axle assembly as the left. I would also have thought that the outer axle flanges would have been identical, but certainly there’s something which is causing more of them to leak on the right side. Dana makes enough axles across the spectrum of vehicles in this country that I would have thought they would get this corrected fairly quickly in the manufacturing process, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. If the right flange is machined differently, they may have to come up with a modified seal.

 

[ZSum73]

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.

Did you change it out with the other style and did it stop the leak? There are mechanic videos that show if your axle seals leak check for restrictions in the vent and once fixed the axle will no longer leak. Says replacing seals is not necessary once the restrictions are relieved it will no longer leak or seep.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...wqsBegQIBRAG&usg=AOvVaw2920jFUNytSCbsirJUCMTp

 

[ShadowsPapa]

For those concerned about the fluid being low or running low or running out -
What's the rear Dana 44 hold - 4.75 pints? Is that correct?
Take 4.75 x 16 because there's 16 ounces in a pint.
That's about 76 ounces. Now take 2 ounces of lube and pour it on your floor or wheel (not really, but find something similar)
Look at how far that goes!! How many square FEET will 2 ounces cover?

And so far no one is seeing anything more than drips on a shield, some on a wheel, perhaps a quarter or half dollar size on the floor. My bet is that what's being seen isn't even 1 ounce out of over 70.

My point is that unless it's leaving "spray marks" around the inside of the tire, 360 degrees, all directions, it's likely not leaking enough for you as a human to tell if it's down. There isn't a measure you pull out and see it's 8 ounces low.
So I'd be more concerned about the fact it even IS leaking, the mess on the tire (lube + rubber = not good) the mess on the floor, possibility of contaminating brake parts - and not about it being low unless you are actually seeing large spots on the floor.
I've had differentials leak - take a car with 160,000 miles and 40 years on it and you get leaks. My SX4 leaked bad enough at the pinion seal that it left spray the width of the floor (meaning it leaked while driving) and an occasional spot on the floor. And I couldn't tell it was low and that's the tiny AMC 15 - not a lot of fluid in them to begin with.
Similar for my Javelin - it left spots on the floor when parked and yet when I changed differentials out a couple of years back I checked fluid - still on my finger (little finger into hole bent at 90 to see if you reach fluid) it still came halfway up on that first finger joint.

Takes a lot spotting to find fluid is actually low.
So unless you are leaving big spots and it's really spraying around the tire/wheel and dripping while parked, I'd bet it isn't low due to a leak.

 

[sdk131]

If the right side of the rear axle is leaking in disproportionate numbers, replacing the shaft assembly as the “fix” probably isn’t going to be a permanent solution, as it’s the exact same seal as on the left. In some cases, it’s the exact same axle assembly as the left. I would also have thought that the outer axle flanges would have been identical, but certainly there’s something which is causing more of them to leak on the right side. Dana makes enough axles across the spectrum of vehicles in this country that I would have thought they would get this corrected fairly quickly in the manufacturing process, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. If the right flange is machined differently, they may have to come up with a modified seal.

My EXACT thoughts. Wondering if there is an issue with the housing on passenger side and if it will require an oversized gasket/different part number on the replacement shafts. Very very odd to me that it is predominately passenger side.

 

[Killroy Was Here]

Did you change it out with the other style and did it stop the leak? There are mechanic videos that show if your axle seals leak check for restrictions in the vent and once fixed the axle will no longer leak. Says replacing seals is not necessary once the restrictions are relieved it will no longer leak or seep.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NvNjh3154yw&ved=2ahUKEwimz8bN97fxAhUPG80KHV_FDOMQwqsBegQIBRAG&usg=AOvVaw2920jFUNytSCbsirJUCMTp

Here is my post on this thread after I had the axle & seal assy. replaced at the dealer, and what I did with the vent cap after I got it home.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/leaking-axle-seal.42026/post-711512

I had first noticed the leakage at around 1,200 miles on the odometer. Was able to take it in for the axle replacement at 2,255 miles & it now has 3,856 miles on it.
So over 1,600 miles since the axle replacement, and modifying the original vent cap .
To date there is no leakage at all at either axle.

As I mentioned earlier, the excessively restrictive vent cap may not be the cause of this, but am sure it is likely a contributing factor.

Dave

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Here is my post on this thread after I had the axle & seal assy. replaced at the dealer, and what I did with the vent cap after I got it home.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/leaking-axle-seal.42026/post-711512

I had first noticed the leakage at around 1,200 miles on the odometer. Was able to take it in for the axle replacement at 2,255 miles & it now has 3,856 miles on it.
So over 1,600 miles since the axle replacement, and modifying the original vent cap .
To date there is no leakage at all at either axle.

As I mentioned earlier, the excessively restrictive vent cap may not be the cause of this, but am sure it is likely a contributing factor.

Dave

If that was a bet, I'd take that best and raise ya.
How fast do you really think these build heat and pressure?

Mechanic videos on youtube........hmmmmmmm.........
Did you modify the vent after you saw leaking again, or "just because you saw videos". What if it wasn't going to leak again?

Did the vent get modified at the same time period the JTs with leak issues were made? Is that vent only on the JTs that have leak issues?

Are the "mechanics" on youtube DIYers who monetize, or are they ASE certified that did scientific testing so they could prove it was the vent and no other reason?

If I'm running the same vent, why no leaks?
Aren't these vents membranes? If so, then you can't check them like vents on other vehicles.

 

[Gladman]

This is awful luck man. It's leaking so bad they wouldn't let you take it? You should push to have them make few payments for you since they won't let you take it back.

No, it is because the stub shaft is too short.

 

[Gladman]

Would overfill cause enough pressure and cause seepage that would stop and be fine or would you still need replacement? Interesting that it stopped leaking and your levels are fine. Makes me hesitant on going to the dealer and having a new truck pulled apart.

If the right side of the rear axle is leaking in disproportionate numbers, replacing the shaft assembly as the “fix” probably isn’t going to be a permanent solution, as it’s the exact same seal as on the left. In some cases, it’s the exact same axle assembly as the left. I would also have thought that the outer axle flanges would have been identical, but certainly there’s something which is causing more of them to leak on the right side. Dana makes enough axles across the spectrum of vehicles in this country that I would have thought they would get this corrected fairly quickly in the manufacturing process, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. If the right flange is machined differently, they may have to come up with a modified seal.

I think the issue with the RR seal leak is not a parts or machining issue but rather an install issue. Probably done by robots and something in the install was damaging the seal due to robot wear, or parameters not set quite properly.

 

[Renegade]

I think the issue with the RR seal leak is not a parts or machining issue but rather an install issue. Probably done by robots and something in the install was damaging the seal due to robot wear, or parameters not set quite properly.

I don’t think axles are assembled by robots, but I could be wrong.

 

[sdk131]

I think the issue with the RR seal leak is not a parts or machining issue but rather an install issue. Probably done by robots and something in the install was damaging the seal due to robot wear, or parameters not set quite properly.

then explain why my replacement (inserted by a human at the dealer) is leaking again.

 

[Cookie blue]

Reading all this. Have leak as well. Pulled vent breather, and put valve like front vent. So far leak had not reappeared.

Sponsored