Pulled my axles to replace the ball joints and I have fluid coming out into the tubes (once axle shafts were removed)

From what I can see the seals look good, but is it ok for the fluid to be past the seals and into the tube area? Should I remove this fluid before reinstalling the shafts or am I ok? Do the seals usually tear or just get loose?

Thanks, only pic I have at the moment, but I can get more if it would help.

Never had a problem with leaks before this and the jeep was slightly tilted to the side the pic was on so that is why it ran out this side.

 

thats like the only thing protecting water and dirt of getting inside so yes it should be replaced. you should be replacing your gear oil if its leaking out spluging out like that.

when i pull my axle shafts i don't get a drop of oil even on level ground...

 

I would clean out what you can without pushing any oil/debris toward the seal.

Nothing wrong with not getting it all, except it will look like it's leaking for a long time.

Be careful reinstalling the shaft through the seal.

It is very common for the seals to leak after pulling and reinstalling the shafts.

To rplace the seals, the differential has to come out.

 

I'm thinking that there was too much fluid in the diff and it caused it to overtop the seal. There is nothing there to stop it from happening.

I'll see what I can do to clean it up and check the seal out again. Didnt want to break the diff down, but now weighing the time/trouble vs piece of mind knowing the seal will be ok once it is reinstalled.

 

well trust what ron says because im not expert. hes been in the game longer and hes knowledgeable.

 

Thanks, I'm taking all advice. Never had to replace seals before so it got me nervous when I saw this. My stomach got weak he I saw this because I just knew the seal was going to be all chewed up.

Good to know that yours do not leak when you pull the axle.

 

When you pulled out the old axles , did you see a round piece of plastic on the shafts ? Those are to guide the axles in without screwing up the seals . I did the exact same thing as you and had to pull out the shafts and replace the seals . Use good seals as they are not expensives and be very careful when sliding in the axles , put them in very straight and watch them go in from the housing . Use two people , one slides in the axle shaft and the other watch then and make sure they don't scrape the seal as they go in .Oil them up to help slide past the new seals .

 

Yeah, each shaft had two discs on the end, one got caught in the tube area and I had to fish it out.