Leaking axle seal?

[ShadowsPapa]

My gladiator has the same right rear axle leak. I contacted my dealer for warranty and they tell me they have repaired 4 or 5 by replacing the seal. They also tell me that 2 of them had the replacement fail as well. They are blaming the failure on oversized wheels and tires. Sounds like BS since my mojave has the stock wheels and tires.

That is BS because a number of those with the leaks have stock trucks. And as long as the tires are balanced well - it shouldn't matter.

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[Lonewolf]

That is BS because a number of those with the leaks have stock trucks. And as long as the tires are balanced well - it shouldn't matter.

Agree. As others have I noticed mine when I changed wheels from stock.

 

[NachoRuby]

I noticed mine about maybe a week ago. But I'm sure it's not brand new. I've been checking for it fairly regularly since I first saw others having the issue. I figured it was only a matter of time. I guess I was right, haha. I saw it as I was cleaning the undercarriage to get ready for winter. I'm on 315/70/17s, but the dealership didn't bat an eye at that.

 

[glassjawkid32]

Repair done. About 6 weeks for the part and 4 hours for the job. Hopefully it holds up.

 

[Mtpisgah]

I had spacers and a lift when mine leaked and my dealership covered it. Is there another dealership nearby?

 

[mdyucca]

Well, crawled under my JT a while ago to look at spring part numbers and discovered my right rear axle seal is leaking. Less than 1K miles on the truck. Guess I'll be calling the dealer tomorrow.

Have had same issue, right rear axle seal. Jeep build date 9-20. Purchased 2-21. First noticed leak mid May 5-21 at about 3k miles. Took the Jeep in for first service 11-21 at 8k miles and reported axle seal leak. Parts were ordered with repair completed 12-21.
I monitored the differential fluid level throughout and it was never low. I would imagine the axle lost 2-3 onces from the time I noticed the leak until the time it was repaired.

 

[mountainpass]

Have had same issue, right rear axle seal. Jeep build date 9-20. Purchased 2-21. First noticed leak mid May 5-21 at about 3k miles. Took the Jeep in for first service 11-21 at 8k miles and reported axle seal leak. Parts were ordered with repair completed 12-21.
I monitored the differential fluid level throughout and it was never low. I would imagine the axle lost 2-3 onces from the time I noticed the leak until the time it was repaired.

What is your MDH#? Its on sticker on b pillar, driver door? I mean it could be 9-20, or that could just be 9-20-2020? Just clarifying.

Edit: What model, and if sport Or sport S does it have max tow, or if not does it have limited slip rear? I feel the 9th month builds are when the problem first occurred. the earliest confirmed is a 9/30/2020 build.

 

[02sahara]

Repair done. About 6 weeks for the part and 4 hours for the job. Hopefully it holds up.

Mine took exactly the same. Hopefully it hold up.

 

[Kickaxe07]

Leaking for the 3rd time, first one at 10k miles second one at 12k miles and this one at 12500 miles

 

[Lonewolf]

Leaking for the 3rd time, first one at 10k miles second one at 12k miles and this one at 12500 miles

I know this is a point of contention for some, but have you swapped your axle vent? I ordered one like the front diff has and put it on my rear 500 miles ago and mine hasn’t leaked since. I know it may not be the root cause, but it may be a contributing factor that places a bandaid until Jeep owns up and tells us what is going on. Just my .02

 

[Kickaxe07]

I know this is a point of contention for some, but have you swapped your axle vent? I ordered one like the front diff has and put it on my rear 500 miles ago and mine hasn’t leaked since. I know it may not be the root cause, but it may be a contributing factor that places a bandaid until Jeep owns up and tells us what is going on. Just my .02

I suggested to the service manager to look into just replacing the entire axle housing. At this point we are positive it's not the seal due to when they disassemble it the seal is in perfect condition. This is number 3, on the 4th I'm contacting a lemon law lawyer. So if it takes a housing to keep us from getting to that point I think it would be best for both parties. I'm honestly over it at this point. I love my truck but I have put more miles on loaner vehicles than I have actually put on mine

 

[Lonewolf]

I suggested to the service manager to look into just replacing the entire axle housing. At this point we are positive it's not the seal due to when they disassemble it the seal is in perfect condition. This is number 3, on the 4th I'm contacting a lemon law lawyer. So if it takes a housing to keep us from getting to that point I think it would be best for both parties. I'm honestly over it at this point. I love my truck but I have put more miles on loaner vehicles than I have actually put on mine

Wow. Hopefully the housing fixes it. I wish Jeep would come public on this issue. Love my truck as well and hope my axle leak doesn’t return as I’d prefer not to get rid of it either! Good luck

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I suggested to the service manager to look into just replacing the entire axle housing. At this point we are positive it's not the seal due to when they disassemble it the seal is in perfect condition. This is number 3, on the 4th I'm contacting a lemon law lawyer. So if it takes a housing to keep us from getting to that point I think it would be best for both parties. I'm honestly over it at this point. I love my truck but I have put more miles on loaner vehicles than I have actually put on mine

Sometimes I wonder if the bore made for the seal is not concentric with the bore for the bearing in the housing meaning the axle isn't centered in the seal. Hard to believe in this day of "do it all in one operation CNC" but there are only two places for a seal to leak.
The middle of the seal
The outer rim of the seal
If the axle is centered in the seal and the seal is not damaged, and the axle seal surface is not under-sized, it can't leak. It takes some good pressure to push hypoid lube past the seal lip. More pressure normally forces a seal harder against the axle.
If the axle tube seal bore isn't a perfect circle it can leak there but if the mechanic is worth anything at all, they should be able to detect that. (although these days they typically just swap the parts they are told to swap and don't do troubleshooting per se)
If the bores are not concentric, then the axle won't be centered in the seal - pressure on one side, gap or no pressure on the other. This should manifest itself as more wear on one part of the seal lip and none on the area 180 degrees away.

It's really sad if someone has to put a bandaid on their truck to stop the leak (vent) and it's more sad because if everyone did this, Jeep would assume there's no problem and stop investigating, or not start investigating.

 

[Kickaxe07]

Sometimes I wonder if the bore made for the seal is not concentric with the bore for the bearing in the housing meaning the axle isn't centered in the seal. Hard to believe in this day of "do it all in one operation CNC" but there are only two places for a seal to leak.
The middle of the seal
The outer rim of the seal
If the axle is centered in the seal and the seal is not damaged, and the axle seal surface is not under-sized, it can't leak. It takes some good pressure to push hypoid lube past the seal lip. More pressure normally forces a seal harder against the axle.
If the axle tube seal bore isn't a perfect circle it can leak there but if the mechanic is worth anything at all, they should be able to detect that. (although these days they typically just swap the parts they are told to swap and don't do troubleshooting per se)
If the bores are not concentric, then the axle won't be centered in the seal - pressure on one side, gap or no pressure on the other. This should manifest itself as more wear on one part of the seal lip and none on the area 180 degrees away.

It's really sad if someone has to put a bandaid on their truck to stop the leak (vent) and it's more sad because if everyone did this, Jeep would assume there's no problem and stop investigating, or not start investigating.

I agree 100%. I guess the first 2 were just replace and send it on its way, this time the service manager is going to inspect the entire thing. As I told the service writer, the tech said the seal looked perfect, so if it's not the seal it has to be the other mating surface, which is a little more labor intensive. I'm not putting a bandaid on something to last until it's out of warranty, then it becomes my problem.

 

[NonHyphenated American]

Just curious, are these leaks on the wide D44 and or the regular D44? Mine is a max tow.

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