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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Blowing Rock, NC
Posts: 93
Leaking Axle Seal - Long Post
I know this has been discussed before, probably many times, but I need to know if anyone has an answer to the root cause of the problem. I've just replaced my left side rear axle seal for the third time. I have a 95 2500 5-speed w/DANA 80 center section and DANA 70 axles. Original seal went south at about 30-35 K miles. Didn't realize that was the problem until the warranty was out. Otherwise I would still be after DC to fix the problem at no charge. I read somewhere, either TDR or this web sight, that the Mopar seal had been updated to fix this problem. I just bought a Mopar seal (PN 03496557) w/date code 07/00. Is this the latest seal? The seal is identical to an aftermarket seal I bought about two years ago for less money. It has the same (not Mopar) part # on it, CR 28746. I don't believe the seal is the root cause of the problem. If the seal is the problem, the right side should have been leaking long ago.
I look at it this way. Just how many years has DANA been manufacturing axles anyway? Axle seals aren't rocket science. I have 29 years experience working on cars and trucks and other things mechanical and I have seen this problem once before. In that case I know that the axle housing was damaged due to overloading way beyond a reasonable limit.
I think the root problem lies in the axle housing or the hub, not the seal. Any comments on a permanent fix will be greatly appreciated. For now I have decided to change the seal every 20K miles to avoid the problem of oiling down the rear brake and making it useless.
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Leaking Axle Seal - Long Post
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