the piece inside the red box is leaking on my jeep. over about a two week period there is like a 4" circle of gear lube on my garage floor. what do i need to do to fix this? and what is this piece?

***disclaimer**** this is not a photo of my jeep. i took it off another members post on this forum. thank you

 

that is just a dust cap for the axle tube. If lubricant is coming out that means your axle seal in the differential housing is shot and needs to be replaced - this involves removing the carrier from the differential, as well as pulling both axles.

 

I'm thinking it's your inner axle oil seal. costs like $5 if it is... could be wrong, but there should be a seal there. if you're changing it though, it'd probably be a good time to double check your u joints as you'll have your axle shafts out anyway.

 

here's a great writup with pictures

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/d30seals/seal-1.htm

 

seems like alot of work. its not leaking to bad.

 

...yet! Set some time aside to do the job, you'll thank yourself.

 

get off the couch, blow the dust off yourself and get 'er done.

 

if you decide to do it do both sides at the same time

 

Top Up the fluid in your dif. Get the new seals. They need to be changed! There is no fix like the right fix. If you don't do it you will lose the diff one day.

 

ok thanks for all the advice. but when i go to the parts store what "part" am i asking for.

 

axle seals

 

"inner" axle seals

 

Don't forget to pick up headlight fluid while you're there...

 

This is what it looks like when its low.