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Axle tube leaks after changing axle U-joints.
When the axle shafts are pulled out of the axle housing during such a repair, the inner axle oil seals are disturbed. The ideal thing to do is change them while the axles are out. Pull the front diff cover and remove the bearing caps that hold the carrier in place. If you don't disturb any of the shims or mix up the bearing races you can reinstall the carrier after changing the seals without adjusting anything. This would be a good time to inspect gears and bearings inside the axle to make sure they are in good shape. It would be a good idea to clean the inside of the axle tubes to remove built up dirt, grease, wasp nests, gravel and other debris that your axle shafts would plow through and drag into your new axle seals. It helps to have someone help on this project. A seal driver kit would be handy, and you will need a long piece of cold roll steel with the end machined down to fit the seal driver tool. (If you want to take the time.)
One person can hold the seal and seal driver in place while the other person feeds the pipe or cold roll through the opposite side axle tube, and gently drive the seal in. Good communication skills are a must to avoid bloody finger tips
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