Offroad-Express

Hey all, I have grease leaking out of the seals on the ball joint of the front axle housing , all the seals have been replaced but the chrome ball housing has pitting and rust on it preventing a tight seal thus grease and oil is leakingdoes this mean I'm up for a new axle housing ?

Any ideas much appreciated, cheers, Alan.

Did you replace the axel seal ?

yes it has, is the outer ball seal just a dust seal ?

If the axel seal is faulty the diff oil gets through and makes the grease in the ball/steering knuckle thin and leak out the seal on the ball. The rust on the ball would have to be pretty bad to leak by itself.

Thats not just grease leaking it's gear oil leaking through to the swivel housing from the diff, the only way for that to happen is if it comes through the inner axle seal as the others have already suggested.
If the inner axle seal was replaced and it still leaks, then there could be a few reasons for problems;
1, new seal was damaged when installing, or incorrectly installed.
2, axle has damage on it where the seal runs (seals).
3, Damage to axle housing (where the inner axle seal fits), this can happen if a CV blows.

and yes the swivel ball seal is essentially just a dirt seal, only grease should be used in the hilux swivel ball assembly not oil, the ball seals aren't designed as an oil seal that task is up to the inner axle seal which keeps the diff oil in the diff.

Hi strip it again and check the seals are on correctly is the first thing I'd do. Also check the axle seal and wear on the axle where the seal sits as if diff oil is coming thru into the hub it will make the problem worse, the hub is only supposed to be full of grease and the seal on the ball does not keep the diff oil in very well. Yes when the pitting gets bad enough it will leak a little, you can get the ball rechromed or just replace the housing with a second hand one, either way you will have to strip the front housing. I've got a few here if you need one. cheers

Looks like diff oil to me.

From a bung.....


Image is taken from....
http://www.birfield.com/~morgan/tech/axle/part4.html
Which rules.

also overlooked is the brass bush in the back of the spindle,if this is well worn it can stuff a new seal in no time.
my 2c

When i replaced my cv's,seals,etc i was told to remove rust with fine emery paper.
They came up like brand new
Just my 2 cents worth but it worked for me.