Small update. The dealer's shop foreman was receptive to the "it was your lazy @$& technician's install causing the leak" plea. I asked that he, himself, utilizing the FSM procedure-install a new snap ring and new seal. He agreed and as a matter of fact, listed on the R/O: "deformed oil seal"...
You guys are great. Thanks for the help. Quick update: Dealership says it's the sealing surface of the drive axle that is bad and that I need the axle replaced. I went there to take a look and asked what's wrong, because I saw nothing. He said the shaft was under-sized. You should have seen him...
Dealership replaced front diff carrier at 140k. Three trips for parts warranty work (oil seal) there is still a leak. Now they want a grand (not happening) to replace the drive axle and only offering this as a "maybe" to fix the leak. Drives great en lieu of the obvious.
Any advice is much...
Disconnect your battery for five minutes. Reconnect and drive for around for 39 min or so (trip to store?). After this, find some dirt (or stay straight on pavement), stop vehicle and place in neutral, then depress CDL switch, then place in drive and roll FWD (lights for CDL and vsc off should...