Leaking axle seal?

[ShadowsPapa]

You are far more mechanically inclined then I. Could this get bad enough to cause a clunking noise? It mostly happens when braking on an off ramp but I'm hoping I can drive it around until the parts show up.

Clunking when braking sounds more like one of these -
brake pads/caliper play/looseness
Transmission downshifting - harshly (mine does a noticeable downshift but there's no clunking involved)

The axle seal leak for MOST of the people reporting in is minor. Major in that it shouldn't happen at all, but minor in that the fluid loss is really small and it's so small it's not even leaving spots on the garage floor.
3 or 4 ounces of hypoid lube (the sort used in differentials) will spread to make a terrible mess and leave spots where you park and yet it will barely register as being low in the differential. A cup of fluid - 8 ounces, may take the level to the minimum but a cup (8 ounces) of lube will be spun everywhere and be enough to leave noticeable spots any place the truck is parked, especially in the garage for hours.
Think of a kitchen measuring cup - say the half cup measure - that's 4 ounces. Imagine filling that with oil and smearing it around, how much it would cover.
I had a leaking axle seal on an older Jeep I owned. It had 128,000 miles on it. It never left spots on the ground or floor where parked. I noticed the mess when I pulled the wheels to check the ABS tone rings and sensors for trouble (the ABS light came on in the dash). The parking brakes were a total mess, the inside of the tire showed the lube had been flung on the tire and parts of the wheel for a while. It was really messy. But when I was done replacing the axle bearing and seal and checked the level of lube, it was barely down below the fill hole.

My bet is that unless you see fair size spots any place you park the truck, the sounds you hear are unrelated.

As an experiment, find a friend or neighbor who will stand outside your truck as you hold the brake and shift the transmission from park to reverse, then to drive, reverse again and so on and see if they hear any clunking.
If you have a safe spot like a parking lot or long driveway, have someone lean out a window while you try to duplicate the sounds you hear. Maybe you can at least isolate the area it's coming from.

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[glassjawkid32]

Clunking when braking sounds more like one of these -
brake pads/caliper play/looseness
Transmission downshifting - harshly (mine does a noticeable downshift but there's no clunking involved)

The axle seal leak for MOST of the people reporting in is minor. Major in that it shouldn't happen at all, but minor in that the fluid loss is really small and it's so small it's not even leaving spots on the garage floor.
3 or 4 ounces of hypoid lube (the sort used in differentials) will spread to make a terrible mess and leave spots where you park and yet it will barely register as being low in the differential. A cup of fluid - 8 ounces, may take the level to the minimum but a cup (8 ounces) of lube will be spun everywhere and be enough to leave noticeable spots any place the truck is parked, especially in the garage for hours.
Think of a kitchen measuring cup - say the half cup measure - that's 4 ounces. Imagine filling that with oil and smearing it around, how much it would cover.
I had a leaking axle seal on an older Jeep I owned. It had 128,000 miles on it. It never left spots on the ground or floor where parked. I noticed the mess when I pulled the wheels to check the ABS tone rings and sensors for trouble (the ABS light came on in the dash). The parking brakes were a total mess, the inside of the tire showed the lube had been flung on the tire and parts of the wheel for a while. It was really messy. But when I was done replacing the axle bearing and seal and checked the level of lube, it was barely down below the fill hole.

My bet is that unless you see fair size spots any place you park the truck, the sounds you hear are unrelated.

As an experiment, find a friend or neighbor who will stand outside your truck as you hold the brake and shift the transmission from park to reverse, then to drive, reverse again and so on and see if they hear any clunking.
If you have a safe spot like a parking lot or long driveway, have someone lean out a window while you try to duplicate the sounds you hear. Maybe you can at least isolate the area it's coming from.

Yeah mine does have a downshift clunk on it but I was under the impression that was fairly normal with this transmission. The other clunk I am hearing seems to be different and doesn't necessarily go along with the shifts. I thought it might be suspension related until I looked at the axle seal area. I've contacted a local dealership so just waiting for the call back.

Edit: the second clunk I'm hearing seems to be more when I'm braking on the harder side still have them look at the brakes as well.

 

[Jeep-A-Kneez]

Ain't it amazing how looking at a few oz of oil in the floor looks more like a gallon.

Sorry for the folk having these issues, so far I'm in the clear. Build date was 12-20, 3.73 ratio @ about 11.5k miles.

 

[BackcountryNV]

Update on mne after a month of waiting called the delaership to check in before my appt Thursday they told me the service writer never ordered the axle! Now they say they can't even order one because it is on backorder, does that sound right? Can't they still order one even if its on backorder?

 

[sdk131]

Update on mne after a month of waiting called the delaership to check in before my appt Thursday they told me the service writer never ordered the axle! Now they say they can't even order one because it is on backorder, does that sound right? Can't they still order one even if its on backorder?

ugghhhh... maybe @JeepCares can help. I am waiting on the part as well but it seems like FCA customer care may have been able to shake it loose for me. About a week ago I was told "on backorder until November" by my local dealer. FCA customer care contacted me yesterday (I opened a case when I was told November) and seemed to say the part should make it to my dealer much much sooner.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Update on mne after a month of waiting called the delaership to check in before my appt Thursday they told me the service writer never ordered the axle! Now they say they can't even order one because it is on backorder, does that sound right? Can't they still order one even if its on backorder?

From what I heard they can still order, and they go on a list to receive in the order that the orders arrived to the depot once the backorder is resolved. In other words, once the axles are available, the orders will be filled in the order received (NORMALLY)
So they'd better order, otherwise others will order in front of them.

Now all of that I just posted is assuming Jeep does things the normal way!
I can order almost anything I need - and the item will be sent to me once the backorder is resolved. I simply go on a list.
Does Jeep do it weird?

 

[eyekode]

Arg, just checked mine. Right rear leaking . I guess I am the newest member of the club.

 

[Jeep_willysJT]

First post here. trading my Durango Tow n GO 2021 for a Mojave 2021 tomorrow. I went through all the 47 pages, and now I am scared of the trade. I guess since *A LOT* of the gladiator are leaking from the rear seal that I will be in the pool also.

EDIT

I currently have a new Durango GT for a loaner. I would like it as the family vehicle no doubt. It's a nice ride. Definitely would always choose my Gladiator over it though even with the axle issue. Just my two cents.

 

[Jeep_willysJT]

I know you edited this - BUT - keep in mind, you are visiting a hospital to see how healthy the human race is before deciding to attack and take over the planet.
You are visiting the complaint department.
Out of the many thousands of Gladiators sold - most of those owners will not be on this forum or on fakebook. OF those who are forum members, whatever that number is - even if it's as few as 1,500 - take the number of that 1,500 who have said "yes, mine leaks" and you are likely only a percent or two. If there are 5,000 members, then the number is under 1%

I have not checked the build dates lately - but have any owners checked in with leaking axles that have a build date in the last couple of months?

100% correct. I used to work for Briggs & Stratton (small engines and etc) in Warranty for 15 years.

 

[mountainpass]

Arg, just checked mine. Right rear leaking . I guess I am the newest member of the club.

What is your MDH#? Its on a sticker on frame inside driver door.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

100% correct. I used to work for Briggs & Stratton (small engines and etc) in Warranty for 15 years.

A small world - in the 70s I was authorized for warranty work for Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh and Jacobsen.

I still have several antique B&S engines - a model WMB, model Y, model I, model 5S and others.

 

[eyekode]

MDH: 120506
Build date: 12-20

 

[Jeep_willysJT]

A small world - in the 70s I was authorized for warranty work for Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh and Jacobsen.

I still have several antique B&S engines - a model WMB, model Y, model I, model 5S and others.

I had a good time working for them. Unfortunately old ownership ran them into the ground. Hopefully they come back stronger.

 

[Maximus JT]

Update - truck was dropped off at the dealer yesterday. Received a call in the afternoon, no axles were readily available but a different dealership was willing to give one up/ship it out and should arrive tomorrow. Crossing fingers to be back in the truck end of day Thursday.

Man, I don't know how you managed to get them to do that, but I've been waiting on an axle since 8/9 and just got my 5th date delay to 10/11. That's with Jeep Care involved.

 

[JeepCares]

Update on mne after a month of waiting called the delaership to check in before my appt Thursday they told me the service writer never ordered the axle! Now they say they can't even order one because it is on backorder, does that sound right? Can't they still order one even if its on backorder?

We can look in to this further with you, BackcountryNV. Please send us a private message to get started.

Kate
Jeep Cares

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