How terminal? gear lube leak...

[ChuckstrPT]

So, the new to me axles seem to not want to hold their fluids....Both are pretty dry right now. I couldn't reach any fluid with my little finger. The rear D44 is leaking our the axle shaft into the rear driverside brakes....the front HP D30 is leaking our both ends, dripping off the "C's".......So, how terminal is this? I'm guessing as long as I keep pouring in gear lube, they'll live?? How big a pain is it to change out these seals, I'm guessing that's the problem...
Thanks

 

[redneck]

There is a good write up on the d30 seal change. It looks fairly easy. The d44 I don't know. That break fluid will cause your brake shoes to deteriorate if youlet it keep leaking. Keep your eye on your oils. No need to burn up a perfectly good axle.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

That break fluid will cause your brake shoes to deteriorate if youlet it keep leaking.

You mean gear lube? Yeh, it's not on the brakes yet, but it's not far from it. I'm curious to see what the puddles will look like after I filled them both up tonight......
Where is that write up? Linky??:cheers:

 

[redneck]

Lol my bad! I'm half asleep at work right now. Ill get a link for you when I get home in the morning. Its had surfing the forums on this blackberry lol

 

[5-90]

Changing D44 seals is no tougher than changing the bearings - and if the shafts are bolted in, you'll need to change the bearings anyhow.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

Changing D44 seals is no tougher than changing the bearings - and if the shafts are bolted in, you'll need to change the bearings anyhow.

So, never done bearings either...I'm thinking a press involved? or is this a garage project???:dunno:
The D44 is an XJ, from '87? The front is from an '89.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

Lol my bad! I'm half asleep at work right now. Ill get a link for you when I get home in the morning. Its had surfing the forums on this blackberry lol

Dude....get back to sleep...uh, I mean work........
aren't you working on aircraft????:dunno: Sleep...work...doesn't sound like a good combo

 

[DrRandy]

I could be as simple as the carburetor belt. Have you checked it yet??

 

[xjtrailrider]

See post #3 in this link. I talked a local wheeler lady through the seal change and she did it with no issues. She is a good mechanic but had never tackled taking a carrier out before or pressing out/in seals but she thanked me later and said it went smooth as silk.

This is from our local forum.

http://scc4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=631

 

[5-90]

So, never done bearings either...I'm thinking a press involved? or is this a garage project???:dunno:
The D44 is an XJ, from '87? The front is from an '89.

Remove shafts.

Cut through old bearings (a cutoff wheel in a Dremel, go about 2/3-way through, they'll pop on their own. Slit the other side and split with a cold chisel to finish.)

Slip off old seal.

Inspect bearing surface of shaft and clean.

Lubricate and slip on new seal.

Press new bearing on until it hits shoulder on shaft.

Reinstall shaft.

If you don't have a press available to you, you can still remove the old bearings - which usually results in having both bearings pressed on for what it would cost to change a single bearing totally (and you still get to inspect the surface of the shaft yourself, instead of trusting someone else to do it for you.)

 

[ChuckstrPT]

Thanks for all the info! Do you think I could take care of the front by just installing those seals that fit into the end of the axle housing, those anodized thingies?? That seems simpler...and less time consuming...

 

[xjtrailrider]

Thanks for all the info! Do you think I could take care of the front by just installing those seals that fit into the end of the axle housing, those anodized thingies?? That seems simpler...and less time consuming...

They are meant more for keeping dirt/water out and not so much keeping lube in. I run both for extra insurance

 

[5-90]

Thanks for all the info! Do you think I could take care of the front by just installing those seals that fit into the end of the axle housing, those anodized thingies?? That seems simpler...and less time consuming...

xjtrailrider is correct - they're meant to keep things out, not in. Replace the inner differential seals to keep the gear oil in (after all, gear oil getting into the tubes is gear oil that isn't lubricating the differential gears and bearings.)

But, the anno jobs aren't intended as oil seals, so I wouldn't use them as such.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

xjtrailrider is correct - they're meant to keep things out, not in. Replace the inner differential seals to keep the gear oil in (after all, gear oil getting into the tubes is gear oil that isn't lubricating the differential gears and bearings.)

But, the anno jobs aren't intended as oil seals, so I wouldn't use them as such.

Yeh, that's what I was thinking...just hoping for an easy out....
So where is Hammerspace?:dunno: