D44 blowing gear lube

[ChuckstrPT]

So, the D44 I put under the XJ (and it is an XJ D44) seems to not want to hold it's lube....It appears to be blowing out the breather?? The hose goes from the axle, right near the brake fitting, up into the frame? and now I've got lube dripping from every hole on the driver side. I figured it would stabilize at a certain level of lube...but last check...I couldn't touch a thing with my pinky.....and it took a bunch more lube.
Any help is appreciated:wave:

 

[Stallacrew]

Plug the hole?

Im no expert on axles so i can't help, but replying to this thread is an easy way to add it to my subscribed threads....

Hope you can find an answer.

 

[SleeperXJ]

I had this problem when I first installed the D44. It did settle out after a while.
What weight oil are you running?

 

[DrRandy]

I think he run's 85-140?? I think.

 

[JeepAddict85]

take the breather out, clean the line and fitting. same problem on a dana 35 on my last jeep...it went away after that.

 

[old_man]

You might be running the high fill instead of the low fill cover. If the filler hole is above the axle centerline, you have to be careful not to over fill. The stock cover has the hole just below the center line.

 

[256offroad]

You might be running the high fill instead of the low fill cover. If the filler hole is above the axle centerline, you have to be careful not to over fill. The stock cover has the hole just below the center line.

thats it ^

i run the solid cover and it has a higher hole that allows the gear lube to run... i just get over it and it went away...

 

[ChuckstrPT]

thats it ^

i run the solid cover and it has a higher hole that allows the gear lube to run... i just get over it and it went away...

Ok, I've got the Solid cover....so How do I know there is any gear lube in there if I can't touch it with a finger?? and I have been filling up to the filler hole. It's 80W-90...the cheap stuff at Autozone...no need to spend money if I'm losing it all over the road/ground.
Thanks for the input!:wave:

 

[ChuckstrPT]

take the breather out, clean the line and fitting. same problem on a dana 35 on my last jeep...it went away after that.

I'm not thinking this is the issue...the lube is being channeled up that line into the frame pretty readily....it's leaking out of every hole on the drivers side...

 

[shelbyluvv]

It is over filled. The Solid cover's fill hole is much higher than stock. If you fill it to the hole it will also put lube in the tubes. drain it and add the recomended ammount by the FSM.

 

[RCP Phx]

I run "Solid" covers,I drilled a 1/8"NPT plug where I wanted my "full" height to be!Also are you running a locker,ARB has a tech note about grinding an oil relief next to the drivers side carrier bearing.

 

[Team Willys]

That's kinda odd... I run a Rock Crusher Cover (same as the solid) and put more than stock amount in there, never had a problem. I generally only put 3 qts in it though, which doesn't hardly get it up to the fill plug.

But yes, unless you are running a leaky ARB, it just sounds like its overfilled.

 

[High2by]

My 44 is doing the same thing with a solid cover. I filled it to the fill hole originally but I need to drain it and refill to specs, like Bo said.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

My 44 is doing the same thing with a solid cover. I filled it to the fill hole originally but I need to drain it and refill to specs, like Bo said.

If we don't fill to the fill hole...how do you check the level?

 

[High2by]

If we don't fill to the fill hole...how do you check the level?

Good question, grasshopper. I have no idea. :doh:

I guess as long as it's not leaking you don't need to add anything??? I could always change it yearly I guess, that way I know it stays full. I don't really want to drill and tap a hole in a BRAND NEW cover. Other than making something that would check the level that is lower than the fill plug...

 

[Shorty]

If we don't fill to the fill hole...how do you check the level?

drain it and refill it with the correct amount.
bend a coat hanger/ welding rod to reach into the diff.
pull it out and mark where the level was
use it as a gauge in the future

that's the only way, short of drilling a hole at that level, to ensure it's where it needs to be. The real headache begins when you need to add but can't tell how much without filling, checking, filling, checking......

 

[bosco01xj]

I was under the impression that solid axle diff covers had the fill plug so high for that specific reason... to add more oil to the diff.

 

[shortxjdoug]

I was under the impression that solid axle diff covers had the fill plug so high for that specific reason... to add more oil to the diff.

yeah but when the vent is lower on the rear the lube has less room to expand, most fronts vent out of the top of the casting, most rears are below that on the toob

 

[256offroad]

I was under the impression that solid axle diff covers had the fill plug so high for that specific reason... to add more oil to the diff.

yeah... kinda stupid huh?!?

 

[JeepAddict85]

how about just moving the vent to a different location. My 8.8 doesnt have that problem, vent is placed at the top the drivers side axle tube, running a ruffstuff cover with a higher fill plug.