I parked my xj in the garage for about 10-15 minutes while doing some work to it and when i got done i noticed a large puddle starting to form, it was gear oil coming from the passenger side knuckle. My front axle is a LP Dana 30 w/ 4.10s open carrier. I'm almost 100% sure its a bad set of inner axle seals and perhaps the outer tube seals but just want some feedback so i know exactly whats wrong. also the diff and breather tube have been covered with gear oil, I have a solid diff cover so maybe it just got filled up to much or could this be caused by bad seals inside? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

Here are some photos, also the driver side knuckle is dry and doesnt seem to have a leak.

 

Definitely bad a bad seal on the one side. On the bright side your diff fluid looks nice and clean lol. Anyways, D30s only have inner seals. Replacing them requires removal of the axle shafts and carrier. You also need to make a tool to install/remove them.

 

Thanks for the input, I've seen some write ups on inner seal replacement so I can just look at one of those, for the outer part a lot of people use those alloy axle tube seals, you think these are a good investment or should i just leave it stock with those little plastic covers.

 

Both my plastic covers got brittle, cracked and are worthless, get the other ones

 

alloys? http://www.alloyusa.com/axle-tube-se...usa-11103.html

 

http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoD30AxlesSeals.htm

 

thanks, saw this one when i googled some stuff. probably just gonna follow it.

as for the breather overflowing and everything being covered is that because the inner seals arent holding the gear oil like its supposed to, therefore leaking from anywhere it can?

 

Pop the breather off and make sure it's clear. There's a little valve up near the back of your engine on the firewall that's lets air in and out, if it's clogged then pressure gets released through the seals. However seals don't exactly last forever...

 

Is it me, or does it look like in the last pic that your inner axle has 2 cracks developing on top ear?

May just be crud but it looks like cracks.

 

Looks like cracks in the paint from here

 

should i remove the breather from the axle then remove it and run some air from a compressor through it?

 

saw that after i uploaded the picture, im gonna check it out make sure its not cracked, it could have been a shadow from the camera flash.

 

Yeah that would be a good idea. Make sure to pop the cap off at the top first. Flushing out the breather hole with some brake cleaner would also be a good idea

 

So I tore down the axle today and it all went pretty well except, long story short I pryed too hard on the carrier and it came flying out, I some what caught it but it landed on my finger which i think i broke but not too worried, anyways i marked the carrier bearing caps and bolts to id where they went but when the carrier came out the side bearing covers came off, Im 99% sure I got them back on the corrects sides but my question is do these have to go back in the correct spot of it they accidently got switched what kind of damage am I looking at?

Based off this story people will probably think I am a ******* and shouldnt be working on it myself but it was just bad luck.

thanks for any suggestions and input.

heres a photo of the bearing cover.

 

Just replaced my rear axles seals with mopar seals but my passenger axle seal is leaking any clue on what I did wrong?