Leak after new cv axle?

[c04rsx-sm]

So I just had my passenger cv axle replaced because while installing my lift my buddy broke the inner seal on the boot. Shop said its easier to just replace with new so they did. Everything was fine for a few days until today I put it in 4wd. It worked but after It was parked in my driveway for a while I noticed a pool of oil on the ground...

Any ideas or info?

 

[fdbyrne]

It is most likely differential fluid from a damaged passenger side front axle seal. It's generally recommended that that seal be changed when you change the axle. Either the shop didn't change it and it got damaged when the shaft was replaced or it was replaced but went in all cockeyed and didn't make a good seal (which is really easy to do).

Since it only started leaking after you took it to the shop I'd say that you just need to take it back to them and have them fix it. Be sure that they aren't going to charge you any labor to fix it because it is the result of them either doing something wrong or not doing something while they were in there. It's about a $6 part online or twice that at the local auto parts store.

If they are going to charge you labor to fix it, you will have to make a choice. The labor to change it will be the same as what you paid to have your axle replaced since it's same job. You can pay them to essentially do the same job twice, or you can do it yourself. In the grand scheme of things it's not that hard of a job. Just messy.

Just be careful not to put it off long enough that the fluid gets dangerously low in the differential. That would lead to a much more expensive repair.

 

[c04rsx-sm]

I plan on taking it back my main concern is anything getting damaged more since I have to drive it until Tuesday when I can take it there.

But to clarify. When we busted the seal of the boot it was grease leaking out. Now after the replacement it is a clean oil.. Is that what you are referring to?

 

[fdbyrne]

Yes. The grease in the boots of the CV Axle is separate from the gear oil that is inside your front differential. The seal that is shot keeps the gear oil inside the differential. The CV Axle actually goes through the donut shaped seal into the differential.

I don't know that I've ever seen one fail so bad that you lose a meaningful amount of fluid over the course of a couple of days but I'm sure it's possible. Are you talking about a few drops on the garage floor or a large puddle?

 

[c04rsx-sm]

Puddle

 

[fdbyrne]

That's not good.

The front differential holds a couple quarts of differential fluid. A little fluid always looks like a lot of fluid when it's uncontained on your garage floor. You've probably lost less fluid than you think but I'd still recommend that you don't drive it unless you have to until you get it fixed.

 

[c04rsx-sm]

here is a pic

 

[fdbyrne]

That looks like more fluid than it actually is. I still wouldn't put any unnecessary miles on it until it's fixed though.

It's hard to get a good feel for where that fluid is coming from in that picture. You might want to crawl under there and take a look. If it's differential fluid from a bad seal you will trace the leak back to where your new CV Axle dissapears into the front differential. It will usually drip onto the skid plate, pool there, then leak off in a place that makes it hard to really tell where it's coming from.

Since you didn't notice the leak until you engaged the 4WD you might want to make sure that it's not your transfer case that's leaking. It would be the same kind of fluid but leaking from a different place. My bet is still on the axle seal but it'll be obvious if you get under there with a flashlight.

 

[c04rsx-sm]

It is coming from where the axle goes into differential. And yes it has fallen on skid plate and leaked off of that

 

[c04rsx-sm]

And that pic was taken after car had been moved and then parked again so not necessarily aligned from original droppings

 

[fdbyrne]

Good.

I wouldn't be too upset with the shop just yet. Wait and see how they handle your request to fix it. They might redeem themselves. Those seals are tricky. I always buy two at a time because it's so easy to screw them up.

At least it's nothing major.

 

[c04rsx-sm]

Thanks for all your helpful info!

 

[fdbyrne]

Glad to help.