Rear axle leak?

Trying to figure out the rear main seal leak and the lower ball joints on the front end when suddenly I seen this leak. One step at a time, one step at time. Any one fixed this leak yet?

 

Kind of need to see it from the other side.
That’s a “weird” leak pattern looking at it from that side.
It’s up by the diff breather on the left side too……
And on the top of the axle tube on the right.

Something odd. Again, need to see pictures of the back side.

 

I will get the other side.

 

Maybe it’s just the picture?
But this line, looks to have come detached from its mounting point?
Maybe it’s just the picture?

I don’t have a 3rd Gen. or I’d look at mine.

 

Looks like I found the problem. I think that rear differential gasket is my main suspect?

 

Seems like everything started leaking at the same time, about the time the 4th gens came out. Hmmmm?

 

I'll post up the lower ball joints, since I mentioned them. Dang, everything happens in threes.

 

Yeah, the 3rd Gen trucks are known for that.
Sorry man.


Pretty sure you get can by with just unbolting the rear hubs and sliding the axle out a few inches.
Think you can also unbolt the black lines from the axle tube, and have enough slack to pull out with out undoing the lines at the wheel cylinders. (No need to bleed brakes, or cap the lines).

Still not a fun job. But doable in a driveway for sure.

If you have an E-locker. You may also have slide the locker ring over to get the 3rd member out,
There is a tutorial here on TW. It’s not a 2nd Gen. But the principles are the same.

 

3rd gens don’t require anything special with the locker. Diff just comes right out once the shafts are out of the way, wiring unplugged, and nuts for the 3rd unbolted.

 

Nice.

Us 2nd Gen guys have to pull locker motor and slide the rod over.

 

Gotcha - yeah with the 3rd gen being completely self contained in the carrier, it makes it a bit simpler.

 

Wasn't there a known issue with the 3rd member housing leaking on 3rd gens? I think I remember reading about it somewhere

 

Sure was. I don’t know if there is a TSB or not?
But it’s a known issue.

I guess I could look, maybe there was a TSB?

 

Page #4

 

Gotta love those "here's where we draw the line" documents from a manufacturer.

When those things get written there's 2 engineers sitting at a table with 20 lawyers looking over their shoulder dictating exactly what words to use and not use

Nothing specifically talking about a differential leak though

 

When is a leak, a leak?

It depends on the guy having to do the work.
If I’m doing the work. It has to drip before it’s leak.

Depending on the amount of work required, it has to drip “a lot” before it’s a leak.

If someone else is fixing the leak, a seep is a leak all day, every day.