Ey guys I have a problem. I smelt diff fluid on passenger rear side after driving home for an hour and see this.




Is it bad axle seals? It looks like its coming out of the break drum I know it's not brake fluid cuz of the smell. I imagine I won't be able to make
It to work tmrw hopefully I didn't f something up on the way home ....
Thanks

 

It could be a couple things. My first thought is it looks like a blown brake cylinder. If your brake pedal feels real spongy, that's what it is. Pop your hood and check the fluid level. If the brake fluid is really low, thats your problem. Or, like you said, it could be a blown seal. To check that, remove the plug on the diff. When you take off the plug, a little fluid should come out. The fluid level should be at the bottom of the fill hole. If its not at that level, its low. Also, diff and brake both have very different smells. Diff fluid smells like a very strong motor oil. The only way your gonna know for sure, is to rip off the tire and inspect it. What ever the problem is, your gonna have to replace your brake shoes. The fluid soaks in to the shoe and pretty much makes them useless. Good luck.

 

Im sure it's diff fluid cuz I just changed it about a month ago. So I'm familiar with the smell haha. Is it difficult to change the seals? Are they pricey? And I should replace shoes on both sides right since they'll be uneven?

 

Kinda. If you've never done it before, I would have somebody there that knows what their doing. You have to remove the axle shaft to remove and install the new seal. First, you need to remove the diff cover and let all the fluid drain out. There is a "C" clip that holds the shaft in place. After the clip is removed, the shaft should slid right out. To remove the seal, a long screw driver will do, but a seal puller will be easier. When you install the new seal, you need to make sure it put in even and flush with the hub. Tap the seal in with a hammer to get it started. It insure it's flush, get a small price of 2x4 and place it on the seal and hit it until the seal is fully installed. The seal itself should only cost about $5-$6. The real cost of this project will the diff fluid. If my memory serves me, you need to 75w140 synthic fluid. That's about $12-$15 a quart, and I think you will need 3 or 4 quarts. If your unsure about doing this, go and grab a Chiltons do it yourself book. It has detailed pictures and step by step instructions on how to do repairs.

 

I hate to say it but I think what happened is a rear wheel baring sized up on u and wore a grove in the axel because it happened to me and that's what It was

 

One more thing, yes, change the shoes on both sides. They come in a pair when you buy them. Get new brake hardware as well. It's always recommend to do both sides when changing brakes.

 

Check your axles also. If they look wore where the seals run... They will never seal up. I had to do all this on my 98 when i had it. Same problem you had.

I don't know if anyone has said , but you will need a bearing puller... Or a long pole of some sort... Thats how i did mine.. I pulled the axels and spider gears.. And put a long pole all the way through the axle and just beat the bearings out that way.

 

Well let's hope this isn't the case

 

Alright thanks guys. My dad has done it on his ranger so he has a background on it. Well see how it goes , thanks

 

I'm hoping so to buy from the amount of oil that's on the tire I'm thinking that it is