Hello interwebs. I know that there are a number of threads and posts about axle seals leaking. I have yet to come across one that matches my situation though....hence another post. Long story somewhat short. Bought a 21 Gladiator Willys used. Had 24k miles, 35" BFG MT, 2.5" Teraflex lift, some wheel spaces for the factory rims. After 18k miles in over a year, I developed a axle seal leak on the passenger front. Decided to have the truck regeared knowing that usually the seals are also replaced during the regearing. Shop did NOT do the passenger side seal "because it looked fine". Axle leaked some more. Instead of bringing it back to the shop which didnt do the job completely the first time, I did the seal. It started to leak again. I figured that I didnt clean the axle tube properly, so I bought another seal and the actual Mopar seal install tool. Cleaned the crap out of that side of the tube, used the new tool, put the new seal in and didn't see any leaks. GREAT! Then temps got down to 36 degrees, I was driving to work, I got a lovely shimmy in my steering wheel very similar to what was on the YouTube video where he replaces the track bar with a Rancho track bar. It's happening more frequently. So I know something is up. I went through and retorqued all bolts to factory and the issue persists on top of this, now both sides of the axle leaks, but only sometimes. The question that I have is, could a bad track bar cause enough vibrartion and wobble to cause the seals to not seat properly and then leak? I don't want to keep replacing seals just because. I'm looking at a new track bar option now, but wondering if anyone has had any other cases where the seals leak but only randomly.
JT Leaking Front Axle Seals
- Thread starter mattyj704
- Start date
Good idea. Have you ever heard of seals only leaking part of the time?
jeeeep
Hooked
yes, usually when the tube or axle shaft is bent - you can also remove the wheel, spin the hub by hand and see if it is out of round, I usually use a dial indicator, cheap on Amazon or I think free rental from Autopart store
I just tried to check the axle tube, but that is near impossible. Between the FAD, Steering Stabilizer mounts, suspension arm mounts, nothing has similar gaps, spaces or heights that can be used for leveling.
Also, with all of this in mind. If I were to magically find the culprit, lets say axle shafts, with the pretty new seals in place, would the leak stop or do you think the seals are goners. As in once the start, it will never stop kind of thing. Trying to avoid the rabbit hole of changing everything hub bearing unit (current ones dont have any play or wiggle), axle shafts, steering link, tie rod, all at once so that I do NOT have to replace seals every single time I change a part if that makes any sense.
jeeeep
Hooked
In my own experience, I've found replacing the axle shafts with relatively new seals, the leak stopped.
If the hubs are good, reuse them
Only time I've had to replace seals is when replacing the axle shaft and I knocked the inner seal out of place.
I leave the tie rod attached to the knuckle hung off the frame to keep it from dropping.
Mike Pierson
Hooked
There’s only one seal for the passenger side and it’s outside the FAD, closest to the passenger hub.
Do you still have the FAD or is it “deleted” and you now have a one piece axle shaft?
Do you still have the FAD or is it “deleted” and you now have a one piece axle shaft?