Leaking axle pinion - how to fix?

[jode]

I looked under my truck today and she was bleeding! The rear pinion gear is leaking terribly right where it enters the differential. What is required to replace the seals (or whatever) to get her healed back up? I have never gotten into differentials before (the most I have done is install a lockright). Is this going to be something I can handle with standard tools and knowledge or am I in for an expensive trip to 6 States?

[rockjeep44]

If it's leaking it's more than likely because the pinion bearing has gone bad not because the seal is bad. The best fix would be to replace the bearing and seal at the same time. If you replace only the seal it will continue to leak fairly quickly. As far as doing it yourself, you should be able to handle it.
-Andrew

[quikclimber]

hey, im having the same problem. im gonna replace the bearing and seal soon, but i want to install a locker at the same time. how do you like your lockright? now theres a power trax and a lockright and they both use the carrier, but one is a bit cheaper. which one do you have and would you reccommend it? it would be in a kinda daily driver that sees alot of dirt mountain roads and mud, hopefully some rockcrawling soon.

[jode]

I like the Lockright jsut fine except that I installed it in my bros XJ :(
It would be better in my FSJ :D
We did snap his axleshaft soon after installing it though (it was in a weak Dana 30 axle). The reason is that the open dif ALWAYS transfers the power to the wheels equally. With a locker, there is a potential for 100% of the power to be transferred directly through on axleshaft. It blew his U-joint and that took both ends of the left front axle shafts. On the other hand, the traction gain over open difs was straight-up AMAZING. I don't think you'll meet a lot of people who have used lockers and then gone back to open difs.

So who wants to go into detail on the steps involved and non-standard tools req'd to do this bearing/seal replacement job?

Also, is it standard for it to jsut start leaking all of a sudden? I swear it wasn't leaking last week...thanks for the advice folks.

[Heimeken]

Although it may be the bearing, I would replace the seal first, it's only $5 or so. Only thing is to make sure you torque down the pinion nut to the same spot it was before. If it continues to leak then do the bearing, which is not just a day in the park.

[Subconscious]

I installed a Lock Right in a '99 TJ, Dana 35 rear axle. I removed it after 10,000 miles, when I sold the Jeep. The teeth on the Lock Right showed a lot of wear, to the point where it convinced me not to use another one. I never broke any axle shafts, or any other parts with it though. It installs very easily, just take your time and follow the instructions. The Lock Right is a good locker, it works very well, you'll be please with its performance. I'm just not convinced they're very durable.

The pinion seal is a pretty easy fix too. Get yourself a Chilton's or Haynes manual, they both have good how-to on the pinion seal. The pinion bearing is much more difficult.