solid diff axle leaking out by wheel?

tuk · Post by **tuk** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:37 am

have a 90 rugger with solid diffs and got stuk in a major rutt on the wekend, the drivers side front diff was dripping diff oil (drip every second) from the bottom bally joint at end of axle by wheels. what is that called and are they easy to fix yourself. I read this can be caused by diff breathers being blocked. I am running hose extensions up to the roll cage, just wondering if the hose is too long and not allowing the heat and stuff to vent. Im guessing that it most proberally a broken seal or something tho...
has any one changed these without paying a mechanic?
any help appreciated as only a beginner and willing to give anything a go lol

albundy · Post by **albundy** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 10:40 am

Axle seals are stuffed mate, need replacing. While you have it apart you may as well check and replace the king pin bearings, wheel bearings and seals. Good chance that if oil is coming out, water ios going in and stuffing everything. Do the hard work now for peace of mind.
Al

Fakey · Post by **Fakey** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:32 pm

When you say stuck in a major rut were you leaning over to that particular side for a while?
If so all the diff oil will have run to that side an the weight of it will have pushed some past the inner axle seal filling the swivel hub up with oil (not necessarily damaging the seal) .

The wiper seals on the swivel hubs are designed to hold grease not oil which is why the oil is able to run out.

If it was mine id just see if there was an easy way to drain the excess oil from the hub make sure theres plenty of grease left in the hub an check/top up the diff oil level.

That being said when was the last time you changed the hub grease bearings seals etc? :lol:

meatc · Post by **meatc** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:36 pm

Ring Don Kyatt Auto Parts in South Auckland and order yourself a swivel hub kit and maybe wheel bearings aswell, then get you some axle stands and google how to do it. Oil out most likely equals water in too.

tuk · Post by **tuk** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 6:37 am

have had the truk for a year now and changed no seals, its only a river/mud hack so was thinking of just taking a big botle of diff oil and topping it up when it needs it?
some pics of it stuk here
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 18&t=24036

albundy · Post by **albundy** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:03 am

Good pics. As you say, the truck does mostly river work. I would hazard a guess that she has been getting alot of water in her. Throwing a bottle of oil at it may fix it very temporayily, but fixing the issue properly will make it last a hell of alot longer and save you a shit load of coin in the long run.
AL

tuk · Post by **tuk** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:32 am

i hear you about fixing it properally, the spare dollars to fix it at the moment are a bit scarce tho. I got the impression i will find multiple parts (seals) that need replacing when i pull it apart. i have spare hilux diffs at my mates as a very last resort if it craps itself. do u have any idea of the ball park figure for axle seals?
Do you think running those tractor tyres and when i did the springs over diff i didnt put back the stablising bar from diff to the chasis, do you think this would have contributed to the leak?
cheers

niblik · Post by **niblik** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:57 am

i've seen some diffs on gnarly angles and even with seals pretty feckin knackered, never seen it leak out a swivel hub as mentioned..

my only guess is, as others have said, your seals, be it inner axle seal and wiper seals etc, are well and truly fawked. inner axle seals are part of a hub rebuild kit or ya could get em seperate. rebuildin a hub for peace of mind is primary in my mind. but its not my truck.

as for the stock anti wrap bar (stabilising bar) ya left off diff when puttin it in, wouldnt have made any difference to the leak if i'm readin what you wrote correctly. as long as when you soa'd it, ya got a good seat for springs and clamping on em with the u-bolts.. tyres wouldnt make a difference. i know blokes with tyres a 'little bigger' than yours on lux diffs and have none of the above said issues.

make a quick call to bnt, repco, supercheap and the like to get comparative prices on seal/s and go from there.

Taz · Post by **Taz** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:00 am

Seals might be cheaper than topping it up with oil all the time. Sometimes you can score them for a couple of bucks depending on the vehicle and your luck.

tuk · Post by **tuk** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:11 am

cheers for the advice, goina price up parts and go from there.

Fakey · Post by **Fakey** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:38 pm

This is what I was talking about. All your oil has just run into the swivel hub past your old as fark inner axle seal.

Take it for a quick drive if its still leaking an the oil is coming out milky or foamy then you have water in there. If its still clear then who cares :lol:

drain the excess out of the swivel an carry on beating it :mrgreen:

tuk · Post by **tuk** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:01 am

took the chugger out again on wekend and went sweet as, topd up diff oil before i went and seemed to be sweet and not leaking like it was any more

cheers

solid diff axle leaking out by wheel?

solid diff axle leaking out by wheel?

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