Hey gang, more problems here...

I've recently taken my 2011 JK in for some work. It came back a goddamn magic show of fails. I had a series of issues, but here's the one in question:

The relevant work I had done was to put in US Alloy BJs, and gusset the front wheels while at it.

2 days later i smell that familiar differential oil musk. Slow trickle coming from driver side wheel (never happened before). I take it back to the shop in question and he says i must have a bad gasket and he'll fix it next time (i was supposed to go back within a week). He says it's totally unrelated to the work they did.

I'm thinking its related just because at this point they missed other stuff, and its a helluva coincidence that it happens 2 days after they touch the very part its leaking from, but i'm no mechanic and can't argue technical stuff. Can anyone either support my argument or tell me i'm wrong?

Thanks again!

 

If you see oil collecting in the C as indicated in the picture, it's related to the ball joint work. The axle shafts come out to replace the ball joints. It's very common for the axle shaft seals to leak after the shafts are reinstalled. Even new seals can leak if there is some imperfection on the axle shaft, or if the mechanic wasn't careful with the installation.

Check the oil level in the diff, clean the residue you see in the C, and keep an eye on it for a while. It may be just leftover oil in the tube from when the work was done.

 

Sounds like they may have damaged the seal while doing the ball joints

 

Anytime an axle shaft is removed or even moved there is a risk of the seal being damaged. I always advise the owner of the possibility of seal damage whenever work involves the axle shaft.

 

Thanks a bunch. Yeah thats exactly it, pooling in the C. I'll take this info back to them. "Not our responsibility"....

Much obliged.