So. Yesterday I am poking around under the front of my Jeep looing to see what size the hex drain plug on the transfer case is- and I notice the yoke on the d/s is dripping. The cv boot is tight. Shock is brand new. Brake line is in great shape. Turns out the axle dust/fluid seal *National* part number 710068 is the culprit. Any advice on replacing this? My Haynes manual is less than explicit on this repair. Thank you in advance on this question.
Pull both tires, remove both brakes, pull both hubs and axle.
Remove Differential cover and The carrier inside. ( got spreader? )
Seals are pressed in from the inside of the pumpkin.....
Stupid design if you ask me. All that work for a 20 dollar part!
Good luck!
Solid advice. Once again....the members share valuable info. So, if that seal is faulty would it leak fluid out to the yoke end of the axle? You have drawn a very clear picture for me, and I hope that I don't need special tools for the job that I don't presently posses. Spreader? I have pullers and every socket and wrench and common tool for the advanced projects I have done. Tell me more, bartender. The seal looks like a tiny spittoon, having a flat bottom and a beveled metal trumpet-like flange atop the rubber sealing part.
A spreader is needed to spread the diff housing to be able to remove the differential case. There are 2 seals, one for each axle For me its not yet clear where the fluid is leaking from. You talk about the CV boot which is ok (from the axle shaft?), and then that the fluid is leaking from the yoke end of the axle (U-joint yoke from propeller shaft?). The fact that you are seeing the seal, tells me that it can´t be the axle seal inside the diff.
Thats a good point Frank, but as far as I know that is the only seal that I can think of on the front end. Did not see any when I changed both front axles and hubs awhile back. Unless I am missing something.
Teamwork....You guys are top notch. Okay. At the end of the axle where the knuckle attaches to the axle at the yoke "ears" is where the offending fluid is exiting the axle. It isn't gushing nor is it just seeping. The cv axle runs into the housing out by the wheel bearing and knuckle. That area where the cv boot and shaft ENTERS the axle tube is where the fluid is coming from. Not the transfer case-to-differential prop shaft yoke. The short tube (driver's side) of the axle assembly. :thumbsup:
Then mon21 was right, the diff has to be opened and the diff case to be removed to be able to remove and replace both axle seals. They are mounted from inside the diff housing. It seems that you have to spread the housing a bit with a special tool to be able to remove the diff case from the housing. I can't attach the manual where it shows some drawings now (at work), but if you want i can do it at night from home.
Good God! You guys treat me like royalty. Number 16 should be the offending seal. It looks to be the "last stop" for diff lube before the outside world. I will be doing this next week in addition to rear upper control arm bushings. Was greasing all the zerks this afternoon (all 12 to be exact!) when I saw the torn bushings. Two really fun projects back to back. I wish I could shake your hands. I am not a total buffoon, and know more than I let on in the automotive repair arena...so if you have questions about Cadillacs, Subarus, Mercurys, Fords, Chevys, Toyotas, Kia-s, Lowriders, and Jeeps then ask away.
Are you going to change only the bushings, or the whole aft control arm? My upper arm front bushings are shot and i will have to change them soon, eventhough its not making any noises still. If you want the pages from the jeep manual regarding the diff seal replacement, please let me know, because the system doesn´t let any more attachment to this thread.