I used to own a 2001 2500HD extended cab shortbed. The driver's side rear axle started to leak at about 13K miles. The dealer warrantied the problem and included new rear brakes because oil was on them. When the truck had 37K mile on it, the same seal started to leak again so I traded the truck in. At that point, I did not want to continue to have the same problem over and over again.





Now, I have a 2004 2500HD (basically the same truck as before) with 9,900 miles on it. The driver's side seal on the rear axle is starting to leak. Is this a normal problem to have on these trucks? Or do I just have extremely BAD luck? Why is the same side leaking as the last truck?


Thanks for any input.


Sincerely,


Confusedhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif

01,02,03 D/A EC LB 4X4 no leaks on any of them. Do you have aftermarket wheels?

not uncommon for these to leak. Drivers side seems to be the most common, but could be coincedental.

blizzardplowman,


Tires and rims are stock.

Mine leaks on drivers side also. Adjusted parking brake and noticed it.

I would not say they are that common to leak. Have you checke end play
in wheel bearings? If it is a bit loose it could cause extra seal flex
and shorter life. Also check to make sure differentail vent line is not
plugged because if it is it can over pressure housing when it
heats up and cause premature leaks too.

Have had passenger side leak and repaired under warranty, now 2k later and out of warranty, drivers side is leaking.

Blizzardplowman,


What difference does it make if they are stock wheels or not?


Kirk

Have had passenger side leak and repaired under warranty,
now 2k later and out of warranty, drivers side is leaking.



Check the vent line!!!

Blizzardplowman,


What difference does it make if they are stock wheels or not?


Kirk



My guess he was fishing for strain flex on hub bearing but it would not be a issue on that rear end.

Just had my 4th one in a year put on the passenger side this week. Seems to be OK for now. I had been using seals from Napa to replace the leaking ones and we put on a GM seal this time, could be the same seal, but this one does not leak now. Good luck.

Just looking at the rims for maybe letting junk past them to atack the seal, I had some 20's on a truck that was in my fleet as a toy that had seal issue, 98 Z71, and when we changed back to stock aluminum rims problem stopped. Just a thought.

Just looking at the rims for maybe letting junk
past them to atack the seal, I had some 20's on a truck that was in my
fleet as a toy that had seal issue, 98 Z71, and when we changed
back to stock aluminum rims problem stopped. Just a thought.



Awe yes the "beauty" of rear disc brakes. I still would make sure
vent is not plugged from factory because if it is, it will blow the oil
out somewhere.

Edited by: snoman

I noticed the drivers side rear seal on my 03 was leaking at 25kmiles. Dealer repalced the seal and e-brake shoes.
http://thumb3.webshots.com/s/thumb1/8/7/23/139080723yFaWcq_th.jpg
Rear Seal Leak (http://community.webshots.com/photo/65684589/139080723yFaWcq)

Reading this has topic has peaked my interest... I need to check for leaks again soon as I'm getting close to the end of the 36Kmile warranty.
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley23.gif Edited by: jbplock

I don't tow a lot of heavy loads like some others but maybe heavy loads and an impact while driving the roads cousing the seal to sepperate for a second could cause this. I don't know for sure.


Maybe some crap (metal shavings) left in the fluid that has got into the seal.

Something is "wrong" here as I have a Dana 60 full floater that is 25
years old and it has had a very ruff life and it still does not leak.
Nor does my 89 burb with 170K on it and more than a dozen cross country
trips too.
Edited by: snoman

My '03 had a leak driver's side also at about 8k. had to replace brake pads and E-brake. Have not noticed it since. It also coincidently happened very soon after replacing the rear diff. fluid with Mobil1 synthetic rear diff. fluid. SPICER

Syn fliud is known to sneak past seals better than regular oil
Edited by: snoman

It's interesting that the 04 rear ends have a lower capacity - about 3 quarts IIRC. Maybe that's how GM is solving the problem. My 03 was a quart low from the factory based on the 4qt capacity spec. I also drained mine at 5k and refilled with 4 qts of M1-75W90.

I was told by my dealer that running the oil level 3/8 - 1/2" below the fill plug has resolved the problem. Not sure if I buy that. I have over 70K now and have noticed no leaks. Is anyone running oil other than the grape juice seeing a problem? I've been running Mobil Syn. Wondering if this may be a oil vs seal compatability issue.

Interesting thought on oil vs seal compatibility a bear. I haven't had an axle seal leak but my diff' cover gasket began weeping and so I had the dealer replace it under warranty. Might be coincidental but I had replaced the grape juice with Amsoil last year and about 17k miles ago.

Does anyone have instructions and maybe pictures on how to change the axle seals on the disc brake rear axle of this truck? When the truck goes out of warranty, I want to be able to fix it myself.


I also want to thank the people that have already posted instructions on how to fix different things on our trucks. I realize it takes time to write these instructions out but some of us really do appreciate it.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley1.gif


Ted

Does anyone have instructions and maybe pictures on how to change the axle seals on the disc brake rear axle of this truck? ...


Dmaxallitech posted some instructions and good pictures on changing rear axel seals in the following topic.


Parking Brake trouble; DIY project? (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2537&KW)


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley23.gif

jbplock


Thanks!

I took my truck--first time since new--25kmiles--for among other things the parking brake.


It still does not work!!


Now I read from Bills link--that Mackin had everything done and still no good.


Do we have to adjust the cable?


Also--if the e-brake shoes were adjusted at the dealer--then could one tell whether or not you had a seal leak???


From Eric's pictures--it seems that a seal leak would have oil all over the shoes?

Last spring I replaced the rear axle oil in my 'burb w/Amsoil. Immediately afterward it started blowing oil out the breather hose when run on the interstate. I had filled it to the bottom of the fill hole. It still does it occasionally, but I'm sure the oil level has dropped some. A friend told me that synthetics tend to foam worse than dino oils. Perhaps this is why the factory isn't filling them up all the way like they used to. For those of you who have had axle seals fail, did you top off the oil previously?

As a rule it is the detergent in oil that causes it to foam (though
anti foam agents can be added) and syn oils tend to have a higher
detergent base by design. I use Dino oil myself in axles changed
regularly.