I have a 2001 Cherokee sport 4x4
180,028 miles

I have a loud roaring from 70-80 mph only
loud squeeling noise at all times (driving fwd and reverse)

fluid leaking from rear of differential snout. Only thing I can see so far.



Is this a seal that is bad? if so, how would I go about replacing it? I also noticed on the ends of the axle housing (both) some moisture around them.


I plan on pulling the axles and diff cover Saturday morning to inspect anything else.

Can I drive it like this till then? Its my only vehicle and I have no other way to work.


thanks ahead of time.

 

Anyone?

 

i dont know much but id at least pull the plug off and see if there is any fluid there sorry bro thats all i got

 

I just replaced this about a week ago. Don't know about the noise but the seal is about 7$ at the part store. You just pull the old one out. You will mess the old one up getting it out but then just tap the new one in.

 

What do you have to do to replace it?

 

Drop the front driveline
Take the yoke bolt off and yoke
Take some pliers or whatever works maybe a screw driver and pry the old one out carefully. You will mess up the seal but don't mar the housing.
Carefully tap the new one in place and reassemble
Hope this helps

 

Retightening will change your backlash stetting (correct me if im.wrong) so I think its gonna be alog more then just removing the yoke nut

 

Most dana 30's use shims not a crush sleeve so re-torqueing the new nut should not change the backlash. Check your yoke and make sure the old seal didn’t rub a groove in it. The noise you are describing is not because it's leaking but if its leaking bad your gear oil might be low. Before you take it apart see if it has any side to side or in and out movement.

 

If it's a Dana 35 rear axle it uses a crush sleeve. I got a little mixed up by the comment of removing the front driveshaft.

 

Sorry. I just assumed it was a front axle. That's what the pic looked to be. Then I assumed it was a Dana 30 because that's what mine is and I wasn't thinking about the possibility that he may have something different. He didn't seem to be getting much of a response and I was just trying to help. Guess I need to ask more questions next time.

 

He sort of said "Front axle"... also picture shows what looks like a low-pinion D30, the far tire is pretty far away from the camera making me think the differential is not in the middle of the axle, and that thing in the foreground really looks like a stock LCA

 

Thanx. That was what I was thinking. O well maybe he wil get on here and let us now exactly what he has.

 

For all that I know, its all stock. It is the front axle. In the picture, you can see the lower control arm. That pic was taken from the driver side.

So I don't have to remove the differential cover?

If there is a grove in the yoke, will that have to be replaced?

 

yes replace the yoke if its grooved ...