Hey guys i'm in the process of swapping out my front passenger axle shaft. I have the broken one out but just now realized the new one doesn't have the little seal at the base of where the ujoint connects. I tried to take it off the broken shaft but broke it (it has a split). Do I really need this seal? If so, is there anything I can use in place of it?

Thanks
- Jimmy

 

All it does it keep the big stuff out.
Put it on, glue it, and hope for the best.
Is there a flange on it big enough for a hose clamp?

 

Awesome. And no it doesn't look like there's enough room.

I've got another question:
How far does the differential oil lubricate? i.e. is it sealed off at the splines and only stays in the pumpkin or does it lubricate the axle itself? The reason I ask is that there is a ton of oil/grease on the shaft I just pulled.

 

On the front axle, the oil seal is on the inboard end of the axle tube, just outboard of the carrier bearings.

 

Yes, we discussed that, then he asked how far the oil travels in the axle. So I told him where the oil seal is located.

 

Thanks man, so did the broken u-joint allow oil to leak into the axle tube and get the shaft all greasy?

Shoud the shaft itself be dry?

 

like ronjenx said, the front axle has its seals right at either end of the pumpkin. no oil goes down into the tubes under normal circumstances

 

Could be the shaft wobbling around let oil pass by the seal. It probably also damaged the seal. I hate to say it, but be prepared to have to take it all apart again to re-seal.
(And that will include removal of the differential.)

 

I had the same thing happen to me.

Did you, by chance, drive home on the broken shaft?

If so, the wobbling of the shaft broke your axle seal (the real seal inside the carrier), you will want to pull your carrier and replace that.

 

Lol, sorry, I didn't mean to repeat you, it looks like you beat me to it by seconds :-)