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Advice: Leak near rear left frame by rear left wheel
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
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Advice: Leak near rear left frame by rear left wheel
Anyone have any idea what this leak may be from?
Coming from a hole on the rear left frame just in front of the rear left wheel. Sprays some oil on the inside of the rear left tire. Photos attached. Substance is clear with a slight green oily color. Medium viscosity.
I took to a mechanic that thought it was a rear differential seal. Replaced it. But then issue was not resolved. Not into spending cash on mechanic misdiagnosing the issue.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Originates in this hole under rear left frame by rear left wheel:
also at highway speed sprays behind car onto rear window.
Coming from a hole on the rear left frame just in front of the rear left wheel. Sprays some oil on the inside of the rear left tire. Photos attached. Substance is clear with a slight green oily color. Medium viscosity.
I took to a mechanic that thought it was a rear differential seal. Replaced it. But then issue was not resolved. Not into spending cash on mechanic misdiagnosing the issue.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Originates in this hole under rear left frame by rear left wheel:
also at highway speed sprays behind car onto rear window.
Thanks in advance!
Check to see if your radiator is leaking. Cracked radiator or leaking hose. Green fluid is antifreeze.
I'd be checking the fluid level just as a precaution as it does sound like brake fluid by description.
@OP Have you tried cleaning it all up and monitoring exactly where it's coming from. And on the topic of brake fluid, is there any sponge or creeping on the brake pedal?
From the spray pattern I'm more inclined to think it's the rear brake hose. From the drips on the rear axle and the puddle on the ground it looks light in consistency. My dad would say "Taste it! you can tell if it's axle lube or brake fluid that way." Well, okay, never having tasted either, who can tell?
my first guess would be brake fluid too, but since you said it's coming from the hole in the frame, the rear axle is vented into the rear frame. you should be able to follow the vent tube to a nipple attached to the inside of the frame rail right above the rear tire, on the driver side.
brake fluid will also damage the paint on the hatch.
only other fluid that runs back there is for the rear wiper/washer.
From what you are saying I would pull the plug on the rear end cover and check the fluid level if it was a brake fluid issue you would feel that in the brake pedal it would be soft and not hold would go to floor when held down.
It looks like you have a leak forward and it's running/blowing back down the underside of your XJ. Get it in the air get a bright light and check for a leak at the transmission, engine, forward brake lines, power steering pump/ram assist and double check that new radiator as they have been known to be defective and leak where the fins meet the tanks.
I'd be checking the fluid level just as a precaution as it does sound like brake fluid by description.
@OP Have you tried cleaning it all up and monitoring exactly where it's coming from. And on the topic of brake fluid, is there any sponge or creeping on the brake pedal?
Thanks for this. Appreciated. Monitoring in more detail this weekend. Braking seems fine. Just drove 300 miles with no braking issues.
It looks like you have a leak forward and it's running/blowing back down the underside of your XJ. Get it in the air get a bright light and check for a leak at the transmission, engine, forward brake lines, power steering pump/ram assist and double check that new radiator as they have been known to be defective and leak where the fins meet the tanks.
Makes sense. Thanks for the note, hoping to have time to check this week.
I’ve only ever seen gear oil leak from that location on the frame rail. But that really doesn’t look like gear oil unless it’s super fresh. Even then... Gear oil has a super specific smell. if there’s green color to it, I would think coolant. But I would think it would be tough for that much to leak into the rail, make it all the way back there and not leak out somewhere else on the way.
Is the fluid slippery? Like does it stay on your finger and stay slick for a while, or does it kind of rub off easy? I’m curious as to what it could be.
Advice: Leak near rear left frame by rear left wheel
