Rear Axle Seal Stopped Leaking

[buyacargetacheck]

I have an '05 4x2 3.7L Liberty with about 50K miles.

While on a cross country trip this summer the right rear axle seal developed a slight leak (small drips on inside of wheel rim). The strange thing is the leak has stopped. I checked the fluid level, and it seems like it's about a centimeter or so below the fill hole. The dealer says the level is at 3 of 4 "bars" on their vehicle checklist sheet and that the seal should be replaced for around $350.

Any thoughts on the pros and cons of just keeping an eye on it and maybe just topping the fluid level off?

 

[tjkj2002]

You should get that leak fixed,the gear oil can get on your rear brakes and cause them not to function.The seal is about $12 from Napa,you will need 2.5qts of gear oil and some RTV(about $30 there) and about 30 min to replace the seal,it's not hard at all.You do have to remove the rear diff cover to get the "C" clip out to remove the axle to replace the seal,but a very easy job.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Do you need any pullers for it or does it just pop out and back in tjkj?

 

[buyacargetacheck]

I was afraid of that too. But the leak seems to have stopped, and the gear oil hasn't gotten anywhere near the disc pads. I'm just wondering if that seal got too hot travelling 600 miles a day at Interstate speeds in summer heat and temporarily unseated itself. Now that I'm back to local mixed driving at most 50 miles a day there's no problem.

You should get that leak fixed,the gear oil can get on your rear brakes and cause them not to function.The seal is about $12 from Napa,you will need 2.5qts of gear oil and some RTV(about $30 there) and about 30 min to replace the seal,it's not hard at all.You do have to remove the rear diff cover to get the "C" clip out to remove the axle to replace the seal,but a very easy job.

 

[JeepJeepster]

no, driving on the hw will not hurt anything. seals just go bad sometimes.

Both of my pinions have been leaking for awhile now. Not really worried about it, the oil level isnt changing at all.

 

[tjkj2002]

Just to let you know that a leaking seal can cause more damage if left not fixed then just replacing the seal ASAP.The polished jurnal(SP?) that the seal rides on is very easily damaged,when the seal is leaking dirt and other junk can also get in and now is effectively sandpaper wearing that surface(becoming out of round and grooves cut in it).If left unfixed for some time a new seal will not seal for very long or at all and then you will need the new part with a undamaged seal surface(axle,pinion,and so on) which can become very expensive.

 

[JeepJeepster]

I knew you would say that tjkj.. Just not had the time..

 

[buyacargetacheck]

Thanks for the replies. I still think it's curious that the leak has stopped.

One other thing: I noticed that the fill plug on the Chrysler 8.25 is just about at the same level as the bottom of the axle housing. If the gear oil level is supposed to be just about a cm below the fill plug how does gear oil get distributed laterally to the outer side of the axles?

 

[buyacargetacheck]

UPDATE: I went ahead and topped off the differential instead of replacing the seal. I was down by only about 4 ounces. Still no right rear axle leak! Strange.

 

[LibertyOrDeath]

One other thing: I noticed that the fill plug on the Chrysler 8.25 is just about at the same level as the bottom of the axle housing. If the gear oil level is supposed to be just about a cm below the fill plug how does gear oil get distributed laterally to the outer side of the axles?

It's a combination of the centrifugal (outward) and centripetal (inward) forces that spread the fluid where it needs to go.