New seals, same old leak

[tylerbrinks]

I replaced my front passenger side axle seal about a month ago sue to a small but persistent leak. It’s a 2017 JKUR with only 23000 mikes on it. It seemed fine for about a month but it’s already leaking again. Yes, it’s entirely possible that I damaged the seal when I reinstalled the axle (I have sleeves, so reinstalling the passenger side shaft is actually easy).

But having only 23000 miles on one seal and already leaking on the replacement is making me wonder if there’s something else I need to check. Other than a damaged seal, what else would cause the intermittent leak? It’s been cold here in CO making me wonder if temperature has an effect. I don’t know what else to check before I disassemble the whole front end for round 2.

Any ideas?

 

[wjtstudios]

Potentially a damaged seal during the replacement or a bent front housing could both cause the issue


2015 JKUR AEV JK350
1985 CJ8 Scrambler

 

[Jaybird 11]

I would put silicon around the seal between the seal and the hub next time. My boss replaced a whole housing on a f 350 one time. It still leaked. A little silicon and the seal fixed it.

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[tylerbrinks]

I would put silicon around the seal between the seal and the hub next time. My boss replaced a whole housing on a f 350 one time. It still leaked. A little silicon and the seal fixed it.

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Is it worth trying to apply silicone without removing the seal, or just swap it and put silicone on a new one?

 

[Jaybird 11]

Id put a new one in it.

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[Arrcherr]

How'd the shaft look when you pulled it out?

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[tylerbrinks]

How'd the shaft look when you pulled it out?

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I'd say it was in good condition, if not close to new. It's a Ten Factory chromoly shaft that I installed at about 18000 miles. There is the slight bright spot where the seal sits on the shaft you'd typically expect, but nothing unusual. Straight as an arrow. It's the 2nd time I've looked at the shaft in recent times. I re-geared last year and it looked the same then.

 

[Bierpower]

Any chance the seal wasn't seated straight?

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[Slimebones]

You mentioned you have sleeves installed. Is it possible some fluid is trapped between the sleeve and axle tube and drains out when Jeep is parked on an angle, passenger side downhill?

 

[tylerbrinks]

Any chance the seal wasn't seated straight?

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There’s always a chance - I wouldn’t rule it out. However I used a turnbuckle tool specifically for installing axle seals and it aligns to the opposite side where the shims sit so if it’s off it can’t be by much.

 

[tylerbrinks]

You mentioned you have sleeves installed. Is it possible some fluid is trapped between the sleeve and axle tube and drains out when Jeep is parked on an angle, passenger side downhill?

It’s leaking on level ground. I cleaned out everything when I installed the seal so the only oil is from a fresh leak. The fact that it leaked with an original seal and now with a new one makes me think it’s the housing that has the issue.

 

[zimm]

I've replaced my passenger side seal twice. It's leaking again too, so needs a 3rd one.

The first replacement seal looked mangled when I looked at it. Probably gooned it up installing. The second seal I make a fancy tool to press it in. But it's still leaking....

 

[MattAlpha]

That’s a nice looking press you fabricated!


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[Slimebones]

That’s a nice looking press you fabricated!


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Yeah, I like how you incorporated a bearing on the one end. Nice bearing!

 

[zimm]

It's a bearing/seal press part on the left, and on the right a 1 1/2" socket which fits the new seals just perfect.