Advice needed - recurring rear axle oil seal leak

Thanks Earl.

When I first had the seal done, I thought the seal was behind the bearing and thus would require a press (which I don't have) so I took it to my jeep guy - had I known, I probably would have done it myself. turns out I was looking at a description of the newer D44 on the TJ which *only* has an outer oil seal. Anyway, I just spoke with my jepe mechanic and confirmed what everyone here has come to agree upon. There is an inner oil seal and an outer grease seal. Grease seal won't keep the runnier axle oil from leaking if the oil seal is bad. He is gonna pull it open and redo it - possibly peening the bearing or dimpling the housing in the process to deal with the spun bearing.

Gonna cross my fingers that I will not shortly be in the market for a new D44 housing if this doesn't work. My open air "shade tree" garage isn't going to be too nice for a first time axle rebuild over the next

Dean

Earle Hort> Dean,

That's ok, I was/am obviously confused too.... I am looking at my parts book and it labels all the parts in the rear end except one... Sure enough, it could be that internal seal.

Wow, I just read that 2002 thread. My memory is missing pieces I guess, we figured out back then there was two seals in the CJ dana 44 and only one in the TJ 44. I can't believe I didn't remember that, oh well I did get hit in the head as a passenger in a car accident hard enough to have a stroke since...

That leak I had stopped. I never fixed it that I can remember. I have had the rear pinion bearing and inside axle bearings replaced since and it wasn't leaking when they took the axles out for that even....

The outer seal is a grease one like others have noticed. This won't hold gear oil in, only grease.

I guess it is finally time I replaced mine. Wonder where Steve is these days...

Same test though. If there isn't bearing movement or heat marks, suspect the job.

Mike

Deano wrote:

I watched a guy replace an axle bearing in a Suburban at Snoqualmie Pass, WA, in the dead of winter. First, he built a shelter around the back end of the Suburban using tarps and duct tape. Then, he pulled the axle shaft. Then, he begged a ride to town to get parts...

Earle

Just an update on this thread. Despite Bill's diagram, the D44 on the

Earle Hort> You're not missing anything Mike.

Thanks for the update!

Now I know what I am in for when I open mine up, a trip to a shop to get the new seal and bearing pressed on.

Mike

Deano wrote:

That would be unlikely seeing as they ran out of the 20's for the last of the CJ7's and used the Dana 44. I can't see them reinventing something for the end of a production line.

Mike