Hey folks,

I am new here and I hope I am doing this right so here goes..

I took my XJ in to get the oil changed a couple months ago and they informed me that my front diff is leaking. I have been meaning to get it into a shop to get it checked out but have been rather busy with school. A couple days ago I noticed a vibration in the front right wheel. The vibration quickly turned to a thumping then just now started clunking louder. My best guess is the diff needs lubrication and as a result is locking up and making this noise. Should I refrain from driving it to the shop or should I get it towed? I consider myself good with a wrench, is this something I could fix on a budget?

Thanks,
Sam

 

Stop driving!!!!

Take off the differential cover, clean it out in there, put the cover back on with some black RTV and then fill her up with some new fluid. It's really simple to do, shouldnt take long and isnt expensive.

Well this is only me assuming that it is leaking at the differential cover... Or is it leaking elsewhere? Say at the pinion seal?

 

Thanks for your quick response.

I don't think it is going to be that easy.

Looks like it is at the pinion.

 

Could I just refill it with fluid so I can get it to the shop without getting a tow truck?

 

Yes you definitely can. Take out the fill plug (the one that has a square drive - just put in a 3/8" ratchet or breaker bar to get it loose). And then fill it up to where the fluid starts coming out of the bottom of the fill hole. Put the plug back in and drive it softly to the shop. It won't leak so bad that it'll lose all the fluid if you drive it nicely.

 

Is there a specific type of diff fluid I should put in it?

This really sucks and I hope I am not going to have to replace the whole front axle.

 

Looks like I am going to need to use 80w-90 API GL5 fluid.

Can anyone confirm this for me?

 

Any gear lube will work long enough to allow you to drive it to the shop to get it fixed, as long as the shop isn't hundreds of miles away.
Just don't drive fast, cause you could have other problems with your axle now.

 

The shop is less than a mile away.

Can anyone determine what my gear ratio is by looking at the pictures I have uploaded?

 

Just a quick thought...

Check your lug nuts on both front wheels. I've had a experience quite like yours more than once, and it turned out to be loose lug nuts. I'm not saying it's not your diff, just something to check as well.

HTH!

 

Well you have a manual and a 4.0L so the ratio is going to be 3.07.

I honestly dont think your clunking is due to the leak. I would guess you need balljoints or Ujoints

edit or could be loose lugnuts

 

Not by the pics. You can request your build sheet from Chrysler, or when you take the diff cover off get the numbers off the ring gear and look it up.

Rather than having your axle fixed it would probably be much cheaper to pickup another dana 30 with the same gears. You can find dana 30's all day on craigslist for $100 - $150. Parts and labor to fix yours will likely be a lot higher, hell a dana 30 master rebuild kit will run you close to $90

 

Pinion seals take like 30 mins to fix, not a big deal to do it yourself or pay a shop to do it.

 

HOLY CRAP!!!!!

3 Sheared lug nuts and two loose ones.

I don't know how I missed this, I guess I have never really checked my lug nuts, I sure will now.

Thanks for all of the helpful responses! I have learned a lot about my Jeep in the past 24 hours.

How the heck do these bolts come out?

 

cannot tell your G/R from the pics but, if you have an automatic straight 6, you should have 3.55 gears, and 5 spd straight 6 should have 3.07 gears.

i actually need to know what the best gear oil would be for a flush, did you ever figure that out.



oops, guess i was a little slow on that answer....

thats insane about your lugs!!!!