Axle shaft seal leaks again... wtf?

[yossarian19]

When I put the shaft in, I was as careful as I know how to be. I cleaned the shaft & greased it from splines to the sealing surface. As I recall, it went right in - didn't bang the seal around or anything.
Still leaks slightly.
Anyone have tricks or tips? One brand of seal better than another?
I'll do this job again but so help me, I'd rather not do it a third time.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

you could try "seals it" seals and be done. they make a dana 30 seal that is a fix all.I

could just be some gear oil that got in the tubes. drive it for a week or three and see if it still leaks.

http://www.sealsit.com

 

[DerMeister]

could just be some gear oil that got in the tubes. drive it for a week or three and see if it still leaks.

http://www.sealsit.com

Happened to me. Oil stopped coming out of the tube after a few weeks. Just keep checking the oil level.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

are we talking a front or rear axle here? if its the d30 as said above drive it for awhile, oil takes forever to finally leak all out (though hopefully you cleaned the tubes out before putting it back together :nono

 

[Digger87xj]

Your jeep came equipped with ARP...Active Rust Prevention... It's normal

 

[yossarian19]

OK, I'll clean it up & see how it goes another week or two. I did clean the tubes a bit but I vaguely recall thinking "I could spend more time on this..." - and the side that was pissing before is the one that seems to be weeping now.
Sealsit seals... are we talking about their outer axle seal or one of their inners ? Their inner stuff is damned expensive compared to a plain-jane piece, but if it works...

 

[GrimmJeeper]

when I did mine i shot half a can of brake clean in the tube and pushed a rag through from the inside out till it was coming out clean, and it still weeped a bit for awhile. i would give it a few days and see unless it's just pouring out of there.

 

[yossarian19]

That's comforting. I've got less than 100 miles of driving on it, I don't use the car that much. Probably less than 50, now that I think of it.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

we have a buddy with no pass side inner seal at all (just some duct tape at the inner C , (3 piece to 2 piece shaft conversion on a disco axle) and he could still drive it to the trail , top it off, drive home and top it off. I think you'll be fine even if it is a leaky seal.

 

[weebur]

I used NAPA seals for my D30. When I install oil seals and they have a double lip I always pack grease between the lips because when you slide the shaft in it wipes most of the grease off the shaft.

I cleaned my tubes with a rag soaked with mineral spirits tied to a rope and me and my helped pulled it in and out several times, then used a lot of brake cleaner and compressed air.