Hey all. I installed a set of outer axle seals a few months back and have gone through 3 sets of seals on the same side (passenger). I'm wondering if this is being caused by pitting/rust on the axle shaft. When I pulled the shafts to install the seals, they were rusty - so I wire brushed them w/ my angle grinder. But, the seal area was not smooth by any means.

Any thoughts on what I should do about this? I'm leaning toward 1) pulling the outer seals and forgetting about them or 2) buying a set of chromo shafts & keeping my current ones for spares or 3) pulling the oem shafts and trying to polish the seal area.

Opinions?

 

polish the rust away with crocus cloth.

 

Replace the axle bearings, and use new seals.

You need to have the shaft checked for trueness too at a drive line shop.

Edit: I thought he was talking about the rears.

 

I would say if the idea is on the table to buy chromo shafts I would. I would just deal with the leak until then. Then replace seals and possibly bearing. Call Yukon gear they are really helpful and their customer service actually knows their stuff

 

What exactly is happening with the seals? There are two O-rings in them. Is it just the o-rings that are being chewed up?
Is there any gear oil leaking from them?
The area that the seals ride on has always been exposed, needs to be cleaned well with emery cloth.
Here is a picture of the aftermarket tube seal that is being referred to. Keeps water, mud, debris out of inside of axle tubes and helps preserve inner oil seal.

 

you're supposed to fill the inside with grease. Then the outer seal piece will float on an oil film instead of rubbing the shaft

 

^Yea, I use the red sticky stuff. I asked about gear oil because if it is coming out then there is a bigger problem.

OP, did you fill them with grease?

 

If you don't grease 'em, you'll tear them up in no time.

 

Sorry for the delayed response. The outer o-ring keeps getting torn off/loose. And, yes, I've filled them w/ grease each time when I install them (and keep them filled). They tear within the first couple hundred miles. The seal isn't spinning or anything.


I'm guessing the shaft is just too pitted or something - especially since this isn't happening to the other side. I've ordered a set of chromos for it & will worry about the seals if it keeps happening. Heck, if it happens then, I'll remove the freakin things. They are 50% gimmick in my mind anyway.


ETA: And, there is no gear oil coming out. My inner seals are new - and working perfectly.

 

I find them to be more beneficial than gimmick, provided rig is being driving through water crossings, or mud, or sand etc. on a regular basis.
When I pulled the shafts from my crawler XJ that did not have the outer seals, the bottom of axle tubes were full of silt and dried mud. Corrosion takes place in there also. The seals prevent all that mess.

 

I have them on mine, they work properly, I drive in a lot of snow and dirt and wet messy stuff, my shafts are always clean when I pull them

 

Yep. You didn't help any by taking a grinder to it. It needs a fine polish, and if it's pitted, it's toasted. It becomes a grinder for your seals.