Front axle shaft seal leak

geoffff · 10-06-2009, 10:47 AM

I was out in the van recently, and I noticed this. I knew it wasn't just a rat peeing on my front tire, as the liquid was dark and oily.

Turns out my front axle shaft seal was leaking. For the fix (mostly labor costs), I've now invested another 1% of the original purchase price of the van. Not fun.

I'm at 43,000 miles. I wonder if it's something I did, or just general luck of the draw that comes with driving the van hard.

-- Geoff

Ford_6L_E350 · 10-06-2009, 10:58 AM

I think it takes two leaking seals to get fluid out there. An inner seal at the differential, and an outer seal where the axle leaves the housing. I had my driver's side outer seal replaced, but it looks like the tech replaced all the seals - 6 in total. almost 6 hours of labor! There is a lot of disassembly required to get to those seals.

Mike

j.whitbread · 10-06-2009, 11:14 AM

Are you sure it isn't the D-rated tire crying tears of burden?

scatter · 10-06-2009, 11:17 AM

Happened to me too Geoff. It's in another post here. I know I never do anything wrong,

so it must just be the luck (or lack thereof) of the draw.

geoffff · 10-06-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

I think it takes two leaking seals to get fluid out there. An inner seal at the differential, and an outer seal where the axle leaves the housing. I had my driver's side outer seal replaced, but it looks like the tech replaced all the seals - 6 in total. almost 6 hours of labor! There is a lot of disassembly required to get to those seals.

Yeah, that was my mechanic's rationale -- replace all the seals while he's in there.

-- Geoff

cellularSTEVE · 10-06-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.whitbread

Are you sure it isn't the D-rated tire crying tears of burden?

I almost cried laughing reading this j.whitbread.

steve

**daveb** · 10-07-2009, 09:38 PM

When I had my ball joints done the guy scored the inner seal and the leak started. At first the guy thought it was just a little left over fluid but unfortunately no. I wasn't too sure he knew what he was doin so I took it to a true off road rear end shop. They said that they were contracted by several large tire shops in the area to clean up what those shops screwed up (places like Big O and Les Schwab). Cost me about 500 bucks! At least my local shop said they will make it good for me. Probably won't get the rental car money back and having to use vacation for that wasn't cool.

Bones_GSXR · 03-19-2010, 12:03 AM

Dana 44's and 60 fronts only have one seal stock and it is the one at the diff just inside the tube. I have seen tham both modified to have one at the outer end but they don't come that way. When you mech. replace 6 seals it was probably the one inner and the two spindle seals. On the newer Dana 60's they put a teflon guide agianst the inner seal to guide the axle into the seal without nicking or dammaging it.

I found these at quad4x4.com and they are my new source of parts. I also just found a F550 Dana HD 60 that might go under mine if the guy ever gets back to me.

There is a exploded Dana 60 Dia. in my Gallery.

archebald23 · 07-01-2010, 08:38 PM

i think this happened to the most of us.. my problem started with a supposedly direct fit selector shaft seal which ended up completely incompatible. ill never do a diy job from now on.

_____________
Aceomatic Parts

Roonie · 07-01-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoffff

I was out in the van recently, and I noticed this. I knew it wasn't just a rat peeing on my front tire, as the liquid was dark and oily.

Turns out my front axle shaft seal was leaking. For the fix (mostly labor costs), I've now invested another 1% of the original purchase price of the van. Not fun.

I'm at 43,000 miles. I wonder if it's something I did, or just general luck of the draw that comes with driving the van hard.

-- Geoff

Where did you have it serviced at and your mechanics name? Just curious so when I need the service done I know he has already seen an SMB before.

Thanks.