Leaking axle seal?

[Lonewolf]

So, update on mine. Mine started leaking in December and as some may recall I temporarily solved the issue by swapping the diff vent. I knew it would not be a permanent solution and during the wait even swapped back to the gore vent. As a side note, I could swap to the gore vent and in a day have a visible leak. With the same vent as on the front axle I could clean it up and have no signs for weeks…..for a while. Anyways, as expected it eventually got bad enough that it leaked even with the less restrictive vent. My hope was that by this time Jeep would have come out with some explanation but they had not. Took it into the dealer and they order a right rear housing that is supposed to be here Thursday. Here’s to hoping it stays dry. Kinda wish they’d just put a whole new Dana 44 but wishful thinking at this point.
Best of luck

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[sdk131]

So, update on mine. Mine started leaking in December and as some may recall I temporarily solved the issue by swapping the diff vent. I knew it would not be a permanent solution and during the wait even swapped back to the gore vent. As a side note, I could swap to the gore vent and in a day have a visible leak. With the same vent as on the front axle I could clean it up and have no signs for weeks…..for a while. Anyways, as expected it eventually got bad enough that it leaked even with the less restrictive vent. My hope was that by this time Jeep would have come out with some explanation but they had not. Took it into the dealer and they order a right rear housing that is supposed to be here Thursday. Here’s to hoping it stays dry. Kinda wish they’d just put a whole new Dana 44 but wishful thinking at this point.
Best of luck

What is a "right rear housing" happen to get a part number? I can't imagine they are pulling apart an axle housing at the dealership and slipping a new "tube" on just the right side.

 

[Vtur]

The rear axle is a solid axle tube. Where the seals are locate and about 4" toward the end of the tube are friction welded together. There's no replaceable housing other than the axle itself.

 

[Lonewolf]

The rear axle is a solid axle tube. Where the seals are locate and about 4" toward the end of the tube are friction welded together. There's no replaceable housing other than the axle itself.

So, one piece, got it. Maybe I am basically getting my wish after all. I will post the part number post op.

 

[Lonewolf]

What is a "right rear housing" happen to get a part number? I can't imagine they are pulling apart an axle housing at the dealership and slipping a new "tube" on just the right side.

I just swear that’s what the service guy said and I thought the whole idea of just a right housing odd but honestly did not go any further. I will post the part number after they swap.

 

[ecidiego]

This won't make anyone feel any better, but oftentimes the parts are just continuously made defective by the suppliers.

My brand new 2010 Shelby GT500 had a bent axle flange/hub. I knew something was wrong as a Tweety Bird chirped every time the wheel did a revolution. I measured it with a runout gauge at .026. My other side was .001. MAXIMUM allowed stock runout per service manual was .010. Took it in for warranty. FACTORY BRAND NEW replacement was .030. Chirp chirp. Next one was .022. Chirp chirp. Next one.... wait for it.... .003. No more Tweety. Ford let me know it was a massive bad batch.

 

[sdk131]

I just swear that’s what the service guy said and I thought the whole idea of just a right housing odd but honestly did not go any further. I will post the part number after they swap.

ahhh ok, yeah I am sure it is.

This won't make anyone feel any better, but oftentimes the parts are just continuously made defective by the suppliers.

My brand new 2010 Shelby GT500 had a bent axle flange/hub. I knew something was wrong as a Tweety Bird chirped every time the wheel did a revolution. I measured it with a runout gauge at .026. My other side was .001. MAXIMUM allowed stock clearance per service manual was .010. Took it in for warranty. FACTORY BRAND NEW replacement was .030. Chirp chirp. Next one was .022. Chirp chirp. Next one.... wait for it.... .003. No more Tweety. Ford let me know it was a massive bad batch.

yep...if you scroll back through this massive thread I am leaning toward a massive batch of deffective parts or defective axle housings that are the root cause here.

 

[ecidiego]

yep...if you scroll back through this massive thread I am leaning toward a massive batch of deffective parts or defective axle housings that are the root cause here.

100%.

 

[Lonewolf]

ahhh ok, yeah I am sure it is.

yep...if you scroll back through this massive thread I am leaning toward a massive batch of deffective parts or defective axle housings that are the root cause here.

And I totally mean that as in he probably just used the words right, rear, and housing and I took it wrong. My knowledge of axles is limited to simple boat trailers

 

[sdk131]

And I totally mean that as in he probably just used the words right, rear, and housing and I took it wrong. My knowledge of axles is limited to simple boat trailers

its all good...like a few others in this thread I am just sort of following this with a high level of interest/intensity since it is affecting me as well. It's interesting to hear the different things dealers have said to folks and the different approaches that have been tried by the dealers (replacing just the right axle shaft assembly or replacing the entire rear axle being the two methods so far). A few folks even stated they were told there was a specific Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for this....but to date I don't believe that has been confirmed. Bottom line - many of us are very interersted in seeing a clear identifdication of the root cause and a permanent fix to the problem while we still have time left on the warranty. Mine seems to have started to leak for the third time now....and this is getting old.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

And if every single person who has had the leak would post their exact truck build date, and any part number or date information off the housing, by now it would likely be narrowed down. It has worked for other things in the past.

As far as nomenclature - it's not expected vehicle owners know specific names or terms as laid out in parts books or engineering manuals, but the tech working on it should.
When I went to college for automotive mechanics and technology we were to know the correct terms - but there was also an auto parts class in another building where people who wanted to get into the auto parts business could go and get a degree.
For me it helped knowing the terminology as the first shop I worked in had a parts side sort of like a NAPA or O'Reilly's of that era. IF they were short staffed we could help them out and when we needed something it helped them a lot knowing exactly what to ask for in terms they knew well.
But today - it's a big step backwards, IMO - mechanics don't know the correct terms or how to explain things and parts people look at you like you are speaking Hindi or something.
And I watch the so-called Youtube "experts" and laugh............... it's like they make things up as they go and the unsuspecting viewing public is none-the-wiser. Oh, so that's what it's called.

Anyway, the mechanic may have tossed out the incorrect term or combination of words that didn't translate well. Maybe by night they made YT videos.

 

[Lonewolf]

And if every single person who has had the leak would post their exact truck build date, and any part number or date information off the housing, by now it would likely be narrowed down. It has worked for other things in the past.

As far as nomenclature - it's not expected vehicle owners know specific names or terms as laid out in parts books or engineering manuals, but the tech working on it should.
When I went to college for automotive mechanics and technology we were to know the correct terms - but there was also an auto parts class in another building where people who wanted to get into the auto parts business could go and get a degree.
For me it helped knowing the terminology as the first shop I worked in had a parts side sort of like a NAPA or O'Reilly's of that era. IF they were short staffed we could help them out and when we needed something it helped them a lot knowing exactly what to ask for in terms they knew well.
But today - it's a big step backwards, IMO - mechanics don't know the correct terms or how to explain things and parts people look at you like you are speaking Hindi or something.
And I watch the so-called Youtube "experts" and laugh............... it's like they make things up as they go and the unsuspecting viewing public is none-the-wiser. Oh, so that's what it's called.

Anyway, the mechanic may have tossed out the incorrect term or combination of words that didn't translate well. Maybe by night they made YT videos.

I checked with service and it is the right axle shaft being replaced. I will still post part # and build dates when done.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

While I was at the local dealership to have wave tire rotation and oil change done, I talked to them about a couple of other things with my truck and asked them if they had seen any Gladiators with leaking right rear axle seal. Yes, a couple. Biggest trouble - getting parts. They've not seen any big numbers or major problems, though. Of course the central Iowa Gladiator market is really small. Dealers all have them and all sell them pretty easily but not like major markets in some states so I wasn't surprised to hear they'd not seem many or any major issues. Mine was the only Gladiator there today as far as in their shop or waiting for work.

 

[jcarbs]

During my routing maintenance my dealer noticed my right real seal beginning to leak. They ordered the part, it came in a week later and put on yesterday. Happy they caught it early. Hardest part of the process was one of the service people telling me they had never heard of this issue. I laughed and said well you need to keep up with your Jeep forums because it's happening a lot. Typical stupidity from a service guy who couldn't care less. Thankfully I was handed off to someone who cared.

 

[JTDay]

5G Ford Rangers, which have nearly identical Dana advantek 44 on the rear as the Gladiator, have had the right rear axle leak issue since 2019. They also produced the Ranger driveshaft and it's been equally as crappy of a part from them. Too bad.

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