Help identifying fluid leak and creaking noise. (1 Viewer)

[Artie]

Just arrived home from a holiday road trip, drove 2 consecutive 700 mile days. Two things I’ve noticed, possibly unrelated but both new and appearing at the same time. Trip was 4K miles with some decent trail running.

1. Some type of fluid leak inside front drivers side wheel well. Feels oily but due to massive congestion I can’t smell anything. All checkable fluids are at normal levels. I do not see any of this on engine but there does appear to be something under the air compressor by the brake master cylinder. I did change diff fluids 1k miles before this trip, could it be possible for fluid to blow out front diff breather? Air compressor runs rear locker… could diff oil come up that line and leak out? I feel like blown shock could also be a possibility but no oil on tire so not sure how it would get that high on fender well.

2. Creaking noise. Not sure how to describe this but it sounds like the popping noise you would hear from the rigging on a sailboat. This could be from the oil leak getting in between the skids and frame making this noise. I hear it when coming to a stop or taking off…so when the frame would flex.

I’ll be doing regular maintenance over the next few days and will be able to take wheels and skids off to look around more but figured the cruiser gurus could likely point out anything obvious that a newbie like my self is overlooking.

 

[Zill]

Does the fluid have a smell to it? Gear oil is one of those smells that’s unique to say the least.

 

[Artie]

Does the fluid have a smell to it? Gear oil is one of those smells that’s unique to say the least.

Currently, I’m so congested that I’m having trouble smelling anything.

Last night while laying in bed thinking about it I’m going to look at my rear differential breather. Looking at the pictures of the fluid it may be coming from the air compressor area and there is a line that runs to the rear end.

 

[nwfl4runner]

got an ARB rear locker? Mine does that when I use it multiple times on a trip.

 

[Artie]

got an ARB rear locker? Mine does that when I use it multiple times on a trip.

Yes, it’s a ARB air locker and my rooting around is pointing toward it being gear oil out of that air locker module. Funny thing is I didn’t have to engage it during this trip.

On yours, have you had to clean or do any repair on yours when it’s done this? I was going to pull my compressor and do some more thorough inspection and cleaning but if this is a common thing I may not go that route.

I did pull my rear end breather and it seems to be fine, I did clean it completely out before reinstalling it.

 

[nwfl4runner]

Yes, it’s a ARB air locker and my rooting around is pointing toward it being gear oil out of that air locker module. Funny thing is I didn’t have to engage it during this trip.

On yours, have you had to clean or do any repair on yours when it’s done this? I was going to pull my compressor and do some more thorough inspection and cleaning but if this is a common thing I may not go that route.

I did pull my rear end breather and it seems to be fine, I did clean it completely out before reinstalling it.

I checked both air lines (axle breather, locker air line), and both were completely clear. Nothing blowing out of the axle seals either, I think it's an o-ring issue inside the locker, either from the factory (likely) or install (unlikely, guy who did it has done them countless times). I am installing what @Taco2Cruiser talked about here - I just need to fab up a little bracket.

 

[Artie]

I checked both air lines (axle breather, locker air line), and both were completely clear. Nothing blowing out of the axle seals either, I think it's an o-ring issue inside the locker, either from the factory (likely) or install (unlikely, guy who did it has done them countless times). I am installing what @Taco2Cruiser talked about here - I just need to fab up a little bracket.

Gotcha, sounds like this will be my solution as well.

Thanks!

 

[linuxgod]

I was getting a lot of popping noises, turned out to be aluminum skid plate noise, which went away with some rubber spacers between the transmission skid and the frame. I didn’t originally have noises but they developed over time.

 

[Artie]

I was getting a lot of popping noises, turned out to be aluminum skid plate noise, which went away with some rubber spacers between the transmission skid and the frame. I didn’t originally have noises but they developed over time.

This is 100% what I was hearing because I removed, cleaned, and reinstalled them and it went away. I’ll get some rubber washers for the next time I pull them.