Just had my pinion seal replaced almost a year ago and now its leaking again. Any possible reason why it is already started leaking again. It lasted a year so obviously I assume they did a good job but just didn't figure that it'd already be leaking again after just a year. Thanks

 

i just put a new one in my jeep like two weeks ago and its leaking around the outter edge, so i siliconed it. they really arent a big deal to replace, so worst case scenario, you have to change it again?

 

not when your dealing with crush sleeve setups in the rear differential. I know most just get away with putting the nut exactly back where it was or just past it to reset the preload but thats not the proper way. Plus ive done did that once and 2 weeks later it leaked (probably from me not installing it perfectly) then I had a shop do it which it has lasted the last year with. But its already been done twice like that, so I assume this time I def need to have it done the proper way.

 

ALSO SECOND big problem does anyone know of a good write up with pics, etc on putting a new crush sleeve in and doing it the proper way? I know alot can get away with the standard method that I used the first time BUT this pinion seal has beens changed twice now with the same crush sleeve in so I dont know how many more times it can be done and get lucky and it keep its right preload. Thanks

 

oh my bad, mine was the front pinion seal haha.

 

Putting grease where the shaft rides on the rubber part of the seal will probably help alot. if it rubs on the metal it can wear out pretty quick.

 

I had the rear diiff pinion seal go when i bought the truck now as a journeyman I want to know why because the previous owner said in three years he had had the work done three times I am mentioning this as it might help I checked the run out on the driveline and bearing plus pinion preload everything was as it should be so why do these seals keep going anyway i checked the differential breather by pushing a bit of wire in it it went to the bottom of the breather then stopped so i removed the breather and sure enough was blocked with rust and gunge cleaned it out and problem solver new breather pipe installed most people probably know this amongst you but I thought I would mention it

 

So, quick question. I have an '04 Ranger XLT 4x4 I just got and noticed the front pinion seal seaping ever so slightly. It's not really enough to even consider a full out drip, but enough to wet the back of the front diff housing. To remove the seal, just take the band straps off the U-joints and move the driveshaft out of the way. Then, loosen the pinion nut and remove the seal......now, I see that some say it's just a quick install of the new seal and then tightening/torquing of the pinion nut, but what about the crush sleeve? I'm assuming that since you don't disturb its seating by using a puller to push the pinion out of the pot, then the crush sleeve is not disturbed?

Any clarification on this is appreciated, because if it's just as easy as what I described, then I can do that quite easily. If not, then I'll just get some silicone sealant and seal the base of the pinion seal for now.

 

So the clog in the breather tube was enough to cause excess pressure in the diff housing and force fluid out of the seal? Is that what you are saying? If so, I'll have to check mine and see.

Do the front diffs have the same breather feature? Sorry, noob at 4x4 Rangers as I come from more of a tuner background. I'm "maturing" :)

 

A ford mechanic tole me that if your pinion bearing is bad, it will keep destryoing the seal. Play in the bearing will cause too much play in the pinion and yoke, which will keep destroying new seals.

 

check the vent and make sure its working or else it will keep blowing out the seals

 

I replaced and rerouted both front and rear axle vents tubes. The front seal seems to have slowed down a bit, but I think I will be replacing the seal in the spring. Just have to make sure the potential is full of fluid to the proper level until then.

 

x3 on ur breather. the cause of tons of repeat pinion and axle seal failures is the breathers. often overlooked. may not be the cause of urs but deffinately something to check anytime u have a axle seal or pinioin seal go out