Leaky D30 Inner Seal?

[bradm]

Hey Guys,

Walking out to the XJ this morning to go to work, I noticed a small puddle right up against my right front tire. Turns out it's gear oil, leaking out the end of the tube. Haven't been wheeling in a while, nothing but daily driving the last few months. However, I recently had the pinion bearing replaced. I'm guessing inner axle seal is bad?

Thanks for your help.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

So either both are bad or just the outer, because in theory if just the inner was bad then the outer should still do its job shouldn't it?

 

[I Lean]

There's no outer seal....so yes, the inner seal is bad. The bad news is, you'll need to remove the carrier to replace it. Do both sides at the same time, since the parts are cheap.

 

[bradm]

There's no outer seal....so yes, the inner seal is bad. The bad news is, you'll need to remove the carrier to replace it. Do both sides at the same time, since the parts are cheap.

Right, and since I have and ARB, that means I need a case spreader, correct? Which I don't have...

 

[I Lean]

Right, and since I have and ARB, that means I need a case spreader, correct? Which I don't have...

Maybe, maybe not....depends on how tight it was installed originally. Chances are good you can get it done without a spreader.

 

[bradm]

Maybe, maybe not....depends on how tight it was installed originally. Chances are good you can get it done without a spreader.

Cool, thanks Carl. :thumbs:

 

[bryson]

If you just had a pinion bearing replaced, that means the shafts and the carrier have been recently removed... Right?

What I'm gettin' at here is that it may not be a leak, it may just be residual fluid left in the tube from when the shafts were out. Could be that you just happened to park at the right angle for it to finally drain out. I'd try to spray out the tube as good as you can at the car wash and then wait... If it leaks again after you cleaned it out, your seal is toast, but there is a chance the wash would solve your problem.

 

[UPNO4]

Depends on if they pulled it down all the way or not
I have changed alot of pinion seals without tearing the diff down just by removing the pinion yoke. It's not the by the book way but it works and is easier just have to be careful on the crush sleeve axles

I have torn down alot of diff's and never once used a case spreader

 

[bryson]

Depends on if they pulled it down all the way or not
I have changed alot of pinion seals without tearing the diff down just by removing the pinion yoke. It's not the by the book way but it works and is easier just have to be careful on the crush sleeve axles

I have torn down alot of diff's and never once used a case spreader

I'll bet you've never replaced a pinion bearing without taking the pinion out though.

 

[bradm]

If you just had a pinion bearing replaced, that means the shafts and the carrier have been recently removed... Right?

What I'm gettin' at here is that it may not be a leak, it may just be residual fluid left in the tube from when the shafts were out. Could be that you just happened to park at the right angle for it to finally drain out. I'd try to spray out the tube as good as you can at the car wash and then wait... If it leaks again after you cleaned it out, your seal is toast, but there is a chance the wash would solve your problem.

Good point! I'll give this a shot and see how it goes.

Thank you everyone for the replies!