Fluid rear axle drivers side

[keytothestone]

Hi all...Been traveling around beautiful NC. Need to update house batteries. Then noticed a lot of fluid around drivers side rear axle. Here some pics. Seems fresh all up in the wheel well on etc. Trying to figure out a direction where to start pooking around ? Axle seal? Fluid doesn't seem like brake fluid. Fluid is pretty dark.

[larrie]

Un screw the fill bolt on the diff and check to see if the oil level is near the bottom of the hole. If not then it may be a seal issue.

[jkasten]

Looks like a bad axle seal. Can lead to big problems quickly - bearing / axle damage. I’ve had good luck with Yukon axle seals.

[bigriver]

Not sure what configuration your rig is but many of these vans are too heavy for a semi float rear end... especially with oversized tires. Speaking from experience, if it is an axle seal, it very well could be caused by an overloaded rear end. I went through a couple on ours before swapping over to a full float. If that's your issue it will happen again.

[keytothestone]

Yep it's a semi-float and probably is overloaded. Fluid in the diff is definitely low. Getting it over to a mechanic in Ashville in the morning. Hopefully just a seal. Might need to fill the diff to get it over to the mechanic? Not just a leak full on blowout of fluid. Thanks for everybody's input! Let you know what happens. Wish I had the time and resource to do a swap

[86Scotty]

If you're keeping the van forever and/or don't care about the cost I recommend a full floater......BUT......it may not really be that necessary. I'll be upgrading mine because my van is overweight for the semi but yours may not be. In talking to a couple of people it seems like 9,000 lbs is about the limit for a semi float rear axle. If I'm not thinking right this morning someone please correct me.

I'd have the axle seal repaired immediately but also I'd weigh the van before thinking of upgrading rear axles.

[keytothestone]

I've thought about the upgrade for sure. In the past when I've weighed the van trying to get the leaf springs right. Fully loaded coming in just over 9k back in 2019. Gonna see how this mechanic goes and maybe reach out to another that sounded good. Don't have a relationship with any in the area. Unfortunately not comfortable with the conversioner down the road performing anymore work.

[keytothestone]

Van at the shop...If in case it's the seal which I'm pretty sure about. Is it worth spending extra for a Yukon replacement kit? Did notice the passenger side also seems to have the beginnings of a small leak. Or just save the $ to hopefully do a FF some day as this will keep happening until I do regardless?

[Big_ern_101]

Rear axle upgrades are nice but not a necessary thing. Think of how many miles this rig did as-is....

What is your front axle setup currently? Are you on van bolt pattern or superduty bolt pattern? Does your ABS work? Do you want it to keep working? Do you want a locker in the back? What are your long-term plans? How long do you plan to keep this rig?All good questions to ask before going after a late model superduty rear axle swap.

[keytothestone]

Agreed B.E.! So shop confirmed seals shot. Asked about some axle upgrades and they recommended going with what I have. Lasted 99k total. 50k on the conversion Replacing seals and some brake parts that got gunked up really bad. Also just hit 50k on the OG BFG KOs, and they are showing some small sidewall cracks so gonna do around of those. Expensive day at the shop. Next while stateside, house batteries need replaced. (Vans) a hole in water in which one......