Well I recently had my driver side wheel bearing go out so when I got the hub assembly off the axle came with so I hit the hub assembly with an air chisel trying to get it off the axle and while I'm doing this I notice gear oil dripping out of the axle tube is this because I pulled the axle out or did I bust the axle seal when I was chiseling on the hub ?

 

Time for a new seal.

 

I would say it was because you pulled the axle shaft out.

 

How can I check if it is ? Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question but I'm only 16 never really messed with axles before

 

Pulling the shaft out shouldn't result in oil leaking. a torn seal will allow oil to pool around the shaft so that when you pull it out, oil then comes out. But if your shaft seals are good there shouldn't be any oil. That's my understanding and experience anyway. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

 

I see oil come out with the axle quite often.

 

Well gear oil can come out when you pull the axle because the fill hole is higher than the bottom of the seal. It is recommended to replace the seal when you change axle shafts, but you don't have to being that they are about $16.00 a piece. If you put the axle shaft in and fill it up and it keeps on leaking then you more than likley cut the seal then you NEED to replace it.

 

So should I just put some more oil in there and monitor it ?

 

That's what I would do.

 

Basically yes but some oil will pass the seal. Drive it for 4-5 days then remove the fill plug and check it.

 

Interesting. I've never had it happen to me. Oh well. Either way, replacing the seals isn't hard. Put the shaft back in, check the fluid level in the front diff, and keep an eye on it the next few days you drive it. If it goes down, you need to replace the seals.

 

Alright thanks for all the help