Anyone know at a glance why my front wheel would be leaking oil? It is oil and not brake fluid. How big of a PITA is it to fix?
Front wheel oil leak (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Freeborn
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
1911
chupacabra
Axle oil seal has failed, and gear lube from the diff is leaking out.
Time to rebuild the knuckles, because you will have to take them out to get to the axle oil seal(s). A messy job that may take you a weekend to do the first time, but not particularly difficult.
I like the heavy duty seals you can buy from Marlin Crawler.
Looks like the axle seal that separates the diff fluid from the birfield/wheel bearing grease has failed. It's a big job but not too bad. Get the full kit with knuckle bearings and the felt and rubber knuckle wipers
- Thread starter
- #4
As suspected. Thank you for your help. Time to get dirty.
- Thread starter
- #5
Quick question as I'm looking at a rebuild kit:
How does one know which shims to use? Is it 100% necessary to have the $500+ OEM tool that Marlin Crawler would try to sell me?
How does one know which shims to use? Is it 100% necessary to have the $500+ OEM tool that Marlin Crawler would try to sell me?
JDNs78FJ40
SILVER Star
@cruiseroutfit in Utah has a great kit. Highly recommend. Put the shims back in the way you took them out.
rkymtnflyfisher
Trout Bum
No it is not 100% necessary to use the knuckle centering tool, just keep track of the shims you remove from each location.
Also just get in touch with Cruiser Outfitters, they will help you out with all the parts you're going to need, and answer any questions you have.
brian
SILVER Star
First time I did it, it took a whole weekend, which included new calipers and rotors while I was in there. Next time i had both sides done in about eight hours. Get the Cruiser Outfitters kit. I recommend getting a wheel knuckle stud without a head to hold everything together while putting the backing plate back on. Lining it all up can be a PITA!
- Thread starter
- #10
Tell me more about this knuckle stud without a head...
Me too, original felt&rubber leaked grease a little already when just installed.
And use this kind of axle seal, there is no need for the centering tool if these are used.
Last edited:
It depends on how long it’s been leaking but you don’t have to rebuild the outer axels just pull out the birf and axels replace the seals repack it all.
This is for sale here in Finland
, but I think it’s very much the same than Marlin’s: HD Inner Axle Seal | Marlin Crawler, Inc.
Dirty but easy enough that the wife got her hands dirty rebuilding the knuckle.
Kurts from Cruiseroutfitters kit was complete and I would recommend going that way.
Agree on using existing shims just pay attention to how you remove them. Nice to have bearing race driver set and buy as many rolls of paper towels you can carry out of the store. Your gonna need em!
Kurts from Cruiseroutfitters kit was complete and I would recommend going that way.
Agree on using existing shims just pay attention to how you remove them. Nice to have bearing race driver set and buy as many rolls of paper towels you can carry out of the store. Your gonna need em!
