Ughhhhh - Leaky Axle Seals!

[Bentley]

I don't know about the LMM's having this problem, but if it helps any I have 122,000 and counting miles on my LB7 and I have never had a rear seal anything happen.

On a side note, taking it to the dealer for a "leak" usually is not a good idea. The average tech is going to find the easiest, quickest and most understandable reason why and fix that. If the problem even requires fixing... When it starts leaking again and you bring it back that tech will either get the truck or see it in the shop and explain to tech "b" whats going on... Basically you get screwed with for quite a while until someones feels nice enough to do the job right.

Blob some RTV in there and call it a day!!

Bentley

 

[SIKDMAX]

Well... attempted this today. Whoever said that was a cap.... :ripped: haha - I pulled that "cap" off and out comes the axle shaft!

Anyways I just took Black RTV Silicone adhesive sealant and ran a bead around the cap, as well as around the axle tube and then popped it back into place, locktited the bolts and back on there, and then smoothed out the excess that oozed out of the crack once tightened down. Did a test drive just now of about 20 miles up to 100mph and things seem fine so far. Well see.

I convereted to Mobil 1 Synth at 300 miles, just like many do and I have previously, never this problem. Who knows....

 

[duratothemax]

- I pulled that "cap" off and out comes the axle shaft!

I told you that it wasnt a cap like two weeks ago.


you shouldnt have to lock tite those bolts. They arent going to come out.

 

[SIKDMAX]

Ya i saw that Ben, you were right. The bolts had a threadlocker on them when I removed, so I figured better be safe and add it again.

 

[duratothemax]

lock tite cant hurt, but if you ever take it off in the future and dont have any lock tite avail. dont worry about it. Really the only things that need locktite are the caliper bolts.

Glad to hear you got it fixed...RTV works wonders...I guess thats why GM uses it for 90% of the places a gasket would normally go on the dmax.

Also good job fixing it yourself...dealers are a PITA, take forever, and you never know if they did the job "right". Also, gives you a chance to play around with things and learn how they work. First time I played with a full floater axle I thought it was a cap too.

(I didnt mean for that to sound as jackass as it did, I went back and read it after and didnt mean it like that : )

ben

 

[SIKDMAX]

Nah its chill, I know what you mean.

Ya I pulled it off and felt it drop out of the carrier and was like o F***.... then I said wait a second, its just a splined shaft.... rtved it up and popped it back in haha.

Thanks for the help Ben and others:yourock::thankyou:

 

[MaxFarmer]

. I have no idea why it went, especially if your axles have never been pulled out.

Well... attempted this today. Whoever said that was a cap.... :ripped: haha - I pulled that "cap" off and out comes the axle shaft!

Wasnt Me!
I'm glad you got it fixed and didnt have to go to the stealer!

 

[SIKDMAX]

POS is leaking again after a 300 mile drive yesterday

 

[MaxFarmer]

Damn! That's what made me wonder if it was the axle seal itself b/c like I said, I ripped my cap gasket when pulling the axles and I just stuck it back in the best I could and its still not leaking? I think they are more of a protective seal than anything, but I'm no expert.
Did you overfill your diff when you changed fluid and possibly blew out a seal that way?

 

[duratothemax]

what color RTV did you use?

I would just go to the dealer and buy the right seal...cant be more than a few bucks, IIRC is a paper-type gasket.

 

[SIKDMAX]

Black RTV Adhesive Silicone. I cant see how that joke of a paper gasket is going to stop anything. Its not even coming out of the actual flange now, its weeping out of one or 2 of the actual bolt area (like under the head). Im going to back them out and put a small bead around every head of each bolt and crank it back down... should stop it. I had VERY minimal leakage with a 300 mile drive with speeds from 70-125 so who knows. Im thinking the extra rotational force of the higher speeds, along with running synth and it getting thinner with heat is just pushing it out slightly. Not sure

 

[LBZ]

As I said before, I would just take it in for warranty.

 

[SIKDMAX]

Not that simple, especially now that Ive "altered" it. Theyll flip out.

 

[LBZ]

I find it hard to believe that it is a sealant issue. Hell I've used red, black and bathtub caulking before with no leaks. It sounds like there is an issue there that needs to be looked at by the dealer. Scrape the sht off of it and try using the GM stuff. If it still leaks take it in. It may be a casting issue.