Gear oil dripping from inner CV boot

I recently lifted my truck and noticed that within 24 hours of the lift, my CV boots were leaking grease. I cleaned them off and it seemed that the boots just slid up due to the higher angle and I hadn't had any problems since that time (around 3 weeks ago). Yesterday I was parked on a steep drive and went to move my truck. Once I did, I noticed pretty decent sized puddles of liquid that dripped along the path that my truck took. I looked under the truck and this is what I saw on the passenger CV boot:



It looked pretty thin, so I took a paper towel to it and it seems to be diff oil: I have a few questions.

1) This obviously needs repair. The boots were good last time I checked. Should I just repair the oil seal? Or go ahead and put some high angle CV boots on?

2) Is it safe to drive in 2WD in the mean time?

3) Are there any other courses of action that I'm missing?

 

Your diff doesn't spin unless in 4wd. That being said, you'll need to replace the axle seal. More than likely, you may have man handled reinstalling the CV. I accidentally fucked up my axle seal because I stupidly double stacked dust covers (one was still stuck on the diff side and I didn't see it)

Check out @Timmah! 's videos, he has one on axle seal replacement I'm pretty sure

Diff seal / axle seal

 

I never took the CV out during the lift install, but there were a couple of times when I didn't have an extra set of hands that I feel like it came out farther than it should have.

 

Hmm, upon closer look at the pics, looks like it's leaking out of the boot. If it were the axle seal, it would be leaking past the black inner part of the axle that holds the tulip/tripod joint.

You could always re-clamp the boot. I like to use band clamps. You'll need to get a tool for it, but it's worth it IMO. You can really tighten those suckers down.

Pic of CV angles would be good. That way we can see how much lift you have. What lift kit did you use?

 

I would also assume that the CV would need to be regreased, no? Since I have no way of telling how much was washed out by the gear oil.

 

Band clamp tool:

OTC 4623 CV Joint Banding Tool And Cutter

$28 OTC 4623 CV Joint Banding Tool with Cutter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063XX5U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FPfcDbHBYQP6A

Band clamps (you don't have to buy these, but search Amazon or eBay "band clamp cv" and you'll see your options, this is what they look like):

AUTUT CV Boot Band Clamp Fastener Round Type for Vehicle Car Constant Velocity 10 Pcs

$7 AUTUT CV Boot Band Clamp Fastener Round Type for Vehicle Car Constant Velocity 10 Pcs

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MFPVRQF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1QfcDb317SHW7

 

OME w/ 883s. I plan on getting a bumper, winch, and skids. But right now my CV angles are pretty bad I'll try to get pics of them tomorrow. My understanding is that gear oil shouldn't be coming down the CV at all, is that incorrect?

 

Correct, the CV has its own grease cavities. The only time oil will leak out will be in between the diff and the tripod joint, where the actual splined part goes in.

Here's a pic of the grease part. It sits in its own chamber and does not come in contact with the diff parts. The backside of the lower piece (which holds the tulip joint) in the picture below has the splines that go into the diff. That is where oil would leak from if you had an axle seal leak.

 

So it's safe to drive in 2wd? I just left it where it was and got a ride home. I'd love to be able to drive it somewhere that I can work on it easier

 

Yes, but you should try to re clamp it as soon as possible. If you do not have manual hubs, your CV axles are always spinning.

 

Ok, that's probably something I could do before driving it.

 

You could use a hose clamp as a temporary fix until you get the proper clamps.

 

I'm working the next 3 nights so I'll just go ahead and order them and they should be here by the time I have time to work on it anyway. It's as simple as removing and replacing?

 

Yes, I usually use a dremel with a thin cut off wheel to cut off the old clamps. I'm sure you could use something else as long as it cuts thin metal and doesn't mangle your boot in the process. If you use a standard CV clamp tool (the "crimp" kind), you might be able to "pinch and release" it, easier said than done though IMO

 

Front axles spin regardless if you’re in 2 wheels or 4 wheels...

 

When it comes to the actual repair, I've read that it's easier to just replaced the CV with Napa ones or whatever and reboot the OEMs for when the Napas fail.

 

I know the axles spin, but the diff doesn't actually move, right? What I'm worried about is the diff turning when it's low on oil. I just want to make sure I'm missing something in my thought process.

 

You aren't leaking any diff oil, but yes the Diff doesn't spin unless in 4wd. Your axles, however, spin all the time. And your axle boot is what is leaking.

You could drive it without any big problems. That's not very much grease that has leaked out. But I would put it high on your priority list to fix, especially since it's an easy fix.

 

What would it be? It seems far too thin to be grease.

 

You shouldn't need to do this since your boots aren't actually torn, but yes, that's what I would do once your boots tear (and they probably will at some point). It's a PITA to reboot these, I have been pleasantly surprised that my NAPA CV on the passenger side hasn't torn yet, and it does rub where the fins contact each other.