Birf soup - using Marlin axle seals...confused!

[alia176]

I just don't get it The birfs were packed 15534 miles ago and I'm already getting birf soup, at least out of the passenger side I just opened up. I'm betting that the driver side will show me the same thing once I open it up.

I removed the Marlin axle seal out of the axle for inspection and it looks great. Upon sliding it over the inner axle, it *seems* to be making good contact all around. Obviously, it's not making great contact since I got birf soup already. I'm not sure what the heck is going on here I'll check the breather vent to see if it's clear.

Installing these seals is uber easy, especially with using their install tool. There's no way to mess it up and it can't go in backwards. I checked to see if the spring is still on the seal and it is.

Ideas?

 

[alia176]

More pic...

BTW, the Marlin seal came out perfectly w/o bending or damage. I wonder if I should send it to Marlin for inspection!!!

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Is the breather obstructed?

 

[alia176]

On my way to check the breather vent right now. Just spoke to Nicholas at Marlin and he is stumped as well!!! Stay tuned....

 

[desertdude]

Staying tuned...

 

[1973Guppie]

curious too....

 

[60wag]

Bent axle housing?

 

[alia176]

Alright gents, got some info for ya....it seems that the front axle housing oem breather vent was indeed clogged. From what I understand, this is a check valve that allows for the expansion of air inside the housing. You are suppose to be able to blow out but not in and correct me if I'm mistaken. I wasn't able to blow out nor suck in (blayuck, gear oil taste bad). I cleaned it up and will stick the Marlin seal back in.

 

[spdwaver]

Glad you got it figured out! Hopefully (for your sake) that's all it was.

 

[alia176]

Yeah, that was probably it considering that it's a mall crawler.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

It's what you get for hanging out with Rover dudes.

Plugged breather? Bahhhh!

Every breather in the third world has been plugged for decades.

More seriously, I think the OEM seals are more flexible and seal better.

 

[Tools R Us]

...

More seriously, I think the OEM seals are more flexible and seal better.

Agree.

 

[OGBeno]

More seriously, I think the OEM seals are more flexible and seal better.

This is the argument CruiserDan made as well when I told him I was going to try the Marlin seals out.

I'll be going back in next month for a regear and will see the results.

 

[jlg32281]

If you never check it, you never know it's not right. That's my theory for my knuckles. Never check, never dissapointed.

 

[OGBeno]

If you never check it, you never know it's not right. That's my theory for my knuckles. Never check, never dissapointed.

I guess you would call that a "negative theory of learning."

Also possibly quite expensive too.

That's ok though, CDan has lots of dogs to feed.

Onward!

 

[wxm]

It's what you get for hanging out with Rover dudes.

Plugged breather? Bahhhh!

Every breather in the third world has been plugged for decades.

More seriously, I think the OEM seals are more flexible and seal better.

+1

 

[snowrider73]

If you have this gooey mess in your knuckles I would assume that it is the same sludge in your diff. I don't understand how a clogged breather tube will cause axle seals to leak, please explain.

 

[desertdude]

I did not use the Marlins in my last rebuild in Feb even though they came in the kit - and maybe not in the next rebuild coming up? I have a bit of leakage on the DS right now... I will be sure and check that OEM seal when I pull it apart.

OEM is still king

 

[alia176]

If you have this gooey mess in your knuckles I would assume that it is the same sludge in your diff. I don't understand how a clogged breather tube will cause axle seals to leak, please explain.

I am just reaching here since I don't have any other explanation for why both sides are leaking. You're correct, the diff fluid is mixed with grease, which isn't really a big issue IMO but I may still change that fluid out.

Perhaps the OEM seals are more flexible, I'm not sure. This weekend I'll compare the two seals and see if there is a discernible difference. The rubber seal part on the Marlin *does* seem less flexible than the OEM rubber seal. I also checked for any grooves on the axle shaft and didn't notice any.

Speaking of feeding the dogs, just came back from CDan buying more parts for this rebuild which has turned into a full blown rebuild

Stay tuned....

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

If you have this gooey mess in your knuckles I would assume that it is the same sludge in your diff. I don't understand how a clogged breather tube will cause axle seals to leak, please explain.

The breather was a stab in the dark from a 0.5 . From what I've read the breather check valve causes a vacuum in the diff (as it cools) drawing grease in from the birfs.

I assumed the opposite could be possible. If the breather was obstructed the pressure would increase (with temp increases) pushing gear oil into the birfs especially if the seals weren't as tight or as flexible as OEM.