Pinion seal leaking

on the actual front diffr, pinion or the front transfer case seal
the front seal is like the rear.
its a crush cage.
that means when you remove the pinion yoke/flange big bolt
the crash cage is destroyed. also wrecking pinion gear to ring gear back lash..oops.. big big mess-up there...$$$$$$
and such cage must be replaced.
questions????????????
how can you be sure its leaking, when the engine this old loves leak oil

i bet that oil on the ground does not small at all like the nasty stink of hypoid GL5 gear lube. I BET

why not post how to find leaks first
and not do $1000 damage

no engine size posted G16? J20?>
The G16, ill demonstrate (coin toss)
Distributor 2 , o-rings leak like made, all do this old !!!!
same with the 60k mile service and valve cover gasket
all leak, for that reason alone, on all 1990s era
next is cam seal
crank seal
pan seal (or pan is rusted thru as many see (today)
oil pump seal
and gawd forbid the rear main seal , engine.


easy peasy japanezzy

why not ask your mechanic to sniff that oil first and save a fortune
guessing.
!!!!

see man pulling axle to remove pan
wana do that?
http://www.fixkick.com/axles/Pan-drop/pandrop.html

to replace this seal, remove the carrier first
then take it to a shop that can rework the carrier
the correct way.

This is different. In a perfect world, you would run the truck on a dynamometer, get it up to 55 MPH and look under the truck. The fluid is going somewhere.
There is a vent tube on most axles. Follow the tube to find its' end and see if the fluid is traveling away from where you had expected a leak. Check your axle shafts under the rear rotors to see if the Emergency brake drum is oil coated.
Another way to think about this is the original failure. The pinion seal. The seal contacts the rotating flange. If you have a wobble in the driveshaft, (balance issues, U-joints) then the rotating flange can wobble. If you have a bad pinion bearing or carrier bearing, it can work to make the spline gear wobble.
So I am suggesting that the leaking Pinion seal was caused by something and the seal was a casualty of an undetermined cause.
You should be able to add an Ultra-violet dye to the axle fluid to find your leak. Even if it is running from the same place, the current leak will be showing the UV dye.
Please rate my info.

what about it?

conventional axle or limited slip? Get axle code off door sticker.

SECTION 205-02: Rear Drive Axle/Differential - Ford 8.8-Inch Ring Gear 1998 Explorer/Mountaineer Workshop Manual
IN-VEHICLE REPAIR Rear Wheel Bearing and Axle Shaft Oil Seal -4.0L SOHC and 4.0L EI, Conventional
Special Tool(s) Axle Seal Replacer
T83T-1175-A Axle Wheel Bearing Puller
T83T-1225-A Axle Wheel Bearing Replacer
T83T-1225-B Driver Handle
T80T-4000-W Impact Slide Hammer
T50T-100-A
Removal

1. Remove the axle shaft; refer to Axle Shaft in this section.

Axle Shaft Removal

1. CAUTION: Do not use heat to loosen a seized lug nut. Heat can damage the wheel (1007) and the rear wheel bearings (1225).
   Loosen the lug nuts (1012).
   1. Remove the center cap.
   1. With the weight of the vehicle on the wheels, loosen the lug nuts.

1. Raise and support the vehicle.

1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.
   1. Remove the lug nuts.
   1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly.

1. Remove the axle housing cover (4033).
   1. Loosen the axle housing cover bolts (4346) and drain the rear axle (4001).
   1. Remove the axle housing cover bolts.
   1. Remove the axle housing cover.

1. Remove the rear disc brake rotors (2C026); refer to Section 206-04 .

1. CAUTION: Once the differential pinion shaft (4211) has been removed, turning the differential case (4204) or an axle shaft (4234) will cause the differential pinion gears (4215) to fall out of the assembly. This could result in chipped or damaged components.
   Remove the differential pinion shaft.
   1. Remove the differential pinion shaft lock bolt.
   1. Remove the differential pinion shaft.

1. CAUTION: Do not damage the rubber O-rings in the U-washer grooves.
   Remove the U-washers (4N237).
   1. Push the axle shafts inboard.
   1. Remove the U-washers.

1. Reinstall the differential pinion shaft.
   1. Install the differential pinion shaft.
   1. Install the differential pinion shaft lock bolt finger-tight.

1. CAUTION: Do not damage the inner wheel bearing oil seal (1177).
   Remove the two axle shafts.

Installation

1. Lubricate the lip of the inner wheel bearing oil seal.
   • Use Premium Long-Life Grease XG-1-C or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESA-M1C75-B.

1. CAUTION: Once the differential pinion shaft has been removed, turning the differential case or an axle shaft will cause the differential pinion gears to fall out of the assembly. This could result in chipped or damaged components.
   Remove the differential pinion shaft.
   1. Remove the differential pinion shaft lock bolt.
   1. Remove the differential pinion shaft.

1. CAUTION: Do not damage the inner wheel bearing oil seal.
   Install the two axle shafts.

1. CAUTION: Do not damage the rubber O-rings in the U-washer grooves.
   Install the U-washers.
   1. Position the two U-washers on the button end of the axle shafts.
   1. Pull the axle shafts outward.

1. Install the differential pinion shaft.
   1. Align the hole in the differential pinion shaft with the differential pinion shaft lock bolt hole.
   1. Install the differential pinion shaft lock bolt.

1. Install the rear disc brake rotors; refer to Section 206-04 .

1. Install the axle housing cover and fill the rear axle housing (4010) with 2.4 liters (5.5 pints) of specified lubricant; refer to Axle Housing Cover in this section.

1. WARNING: Always remove any corrosion, dirt or foreign material that may be present on the mounting surfaces of the wheel or the surface of the wheel hub or rear disc brake rotor that contacts the wheel. Installing wheels without proper metal-to-metal contact at the wheel mounting surfaces can cause the lug nut to loosen and the wheel to come off while the vehicle is in motion, causing loss of control.
   Clean the wheel hub and mounting surfaces.

1. Install the tire and wheel assembly.
   1. Position the tire and wheel assembly.
   1. Install the lug nuts and lower the vehicle.
   1. Tighten the lug nuts.
   1. Install the center cap.

1. CAUTION: Never remove the axle shaft oil seal by itself. Always remove the rear wheel bearing and the axle shaft oil seal at the same time.
   NOTE: If the axle shaft oil seal is leaking, the axle housing vent may be plugged with debris.
   Use Impact Slide Hammer and Axle Wheel Bearing Puller to remove the rear wheel bearing and the axle shaft oil seal.

Installation

1. Lubricate the new rear wheel bearing.
   1. Use Thermally Stable Rear Axle Lubricant XY-80W90-QL or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSP-M2C197-A.

1. Use Axle Wheel Bearing Replacer with Driver Handle to install the rear wheel bearing.

1. Lubricate the lip of the new axle shaft oil seal.
   • Use Premium Long-Life Grease XG-1-C or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESA-M1C75-B.

1. Use Axle Seal Replacer with Driver Handle to install the axle shaft oil seal.

1. Install the axle shaft; refer to Axle Shaft in this section.

Yes it very well could be........Place a piece of cardboard under the rack and pinion and turn the wheel left to right vigorously and then check the cardboard for fluid....Hope this helps.

no they are not suposed to leak period if it is leaking there is some defect

First of all, be certain that the leak is in fact from that seal. many leaks travel to that area.

To change the seal is fairly involved, you need to pull the trans and flywheel. There are some specialzed tools involved. Do you have manual or automatic? Manual requires clutch plate alignment on re assembly, by the way , if manual, be sure to change the release bearing and pilot bearing at minimum. Commonly it would make sense to change the clutch during this process....you're already all the way in there..

SECTION 205-02B: Rear Drive Axle/Differential — Ford 8.8-Inch Ring Gear 2003 Mustang Workshop Manual IN-VEHICLE REPAIR Axle Shaft Removal

1. Raise and support the vehicle. For additional information, refer to Section 100-02 .

1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly. For additional information, refer to Section 204-04 .

1. Remove the rear brake disc (2C026). For additional information, refer to Section 206-04 .

1. Remove the differential housing cover (4033) and drain the lubricant. For additional information, refer to Differential Housing Cover in this section.

1. Remove the differential pinion shaft (4211).
   1. Remove the differential pinion shaft lock bolt (4241).
   1. Remove the differential pinion shaft.

1. CAUTION: Do not damage the rubber O-ring in the axle shaft groove.
   Remove the U-washer (4N237).
   1. Push the axle shafts (4234) inboard.
   1. Remove the U-washer.

1. CAUTION: Damage to the rear brake anti-lock sensor (2C190) may occur if it is not removed before the axle shaft.
   Carefully remove the rear brake anti-lock sensor. For additional information, refer to Section 206-09A .

1. CAUTION: Do not damage the wheel bearing oil seal.
   Remove the axle shaft.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rear Wheel Bearing and Axle Shaft Oil Seal Removal

1. Remove the axle shaft (4234). For additional information, refer to Axle Shaft in this section.

1. NOTE: If the wheel bearing oil seal is leaking, the axle housing vent may be plugged.
   Using the special tools, remove the rear wheel bearing and wheel bearing oil seal.

Installation

1. Lubricate the new rear wheel bearing with the specified lubricant.

1. Using the special tools, install the new rear wheel bearing.

1. Lubricate the lip of the new wheel bearing oil seal.
   • Use Premium Long-Life Grease XG-1-C or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESA-M1C75-B.

1. Using the special tools, install the new wheel bearing oil seal.

1. Install the axle shaft. For additional information, refer to Axle Shaft in this section.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation

1. Lubricate the lip of the wheel bearing oil seal
   • Use Premium Long-Life Grease XG-1-C or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESA-M1C75-B.

1. CAUTION: Do not damage the wheel bearing oil seal.
   Install the two axle shafts.

1. CAUTION: Do not damage the rubber O-ring in the axle shaft groove.
   Install the U-washer.
   1. Position the two U-washers on the button end of the axle shaft.
   1. Pull the axle shaft outward.

1. NOTE: If a new pinion shaft lock bolt is unavailable, coat the threads with Threadlock and Sealer EOAZ-19554-AA or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSK-M2G351-A5 prior to installation.
   Install the differential pinion shaft.
   1. Align the hole in the differential pinion shaft with the case lock bolt hole.
   1. Install a new differential pinion shaft lock bolt.

1. Install the differential housing cover and fill the rear axle with the specified lubrication. For additional information, refer to Differential Housing Cover in this section.

1. Install the rear brake anti-lock sensor. For additional information, refer to Section 206-09A .

1. Install the rear brakes. For additional information, refer to Section 206-04 .

1. Install the tire and wheel assembly. For additional information, refer to Section 204-04 .

1. Lower the vehicle.

Axle Shaft Removal

1. Raise and support the vehicle. For additional information, refer to Section 100-02 .

1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly. For additional information, refer to Section 204-04 .

1. Remove the differential housing cover (4033).
   1. Loosen the bolts and drain the lubricant from the rear axle housing (4010).
   1. Remove the bolts.
   1. Remove the differential housing cover.

Remove the rear brake disc (2C026). For additional information, refer to Section 206-04 .

1. CAUTION: Turning the differential case (4204) or an axle shaft (4234) with the differential pinion shaft (4211) removed will cause the differential pinion gears (4215) to fall out of the assembly and damage the components.
   Remove the differential pinion shaft.
   1. Remove the differential pinion shaft lock bolt.
   1. Remove the differential pinion shaft.
2. CAUTION: Do not damage the rubber O-ring in the U-washer groove.
3. Remove the U-washer (4N237).
4. Push the axle shaft inboard.
5. Remove the U-washer.

Reinstall the differential pinion shaft.

1. Install the differential pinion shaft.
2. Install the differential pinion shaft lock bolt finger-tight.
3. CAUTION: Do not damage the wheel bearing oil seal (1177).
   Remove the axle shaft.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seal Removal

1. Remove the axle shaft (4334). For additional information, refer to Axle Shaft in this section.

1. CAUTION: Never remove the wheel bearing oil seal (1177) by itself. Always remove the rear wheel bearing (1225) and the inner wheel bearing oil seal at the same time.
   NOTE: If the wheel bearing oil seal is leaking, the axle housing vent may be plugged with foreign material.
   Using the special tools, remove the rear wheel bearing and wheel bearing oil seal together.

Installation

1. Lubricate the new rear wheel bearing.
   • For 4.0L SOHC and 4.0L EI with limited slip rear axles and 5.0L vehicles, use SAE 75W-140 High Performance Rear Axle Lubricant F1TZ-19580-B or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSL-M2C192-A.
   • For 4.0L SOHC and 4.0L EI with conventional rear axles, use SAE 80W-90 Premium Rear Axle Lubricant XY-80W90-QL or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSP-M2C197-A.

1. Using the special tools, install the rear wheel bearing.

1. Lubricate the lip of the new wheel bearing oil seal.
   • Use Premium Long-Life Grease XG-1-C or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESA-M1C75-B.

1. Using the special tools, install the wheel bearing oil seal.

1. Install the axle shaft. For additional information, refer to Axle Shaft in this section.

To replace the seal you must pull out the carrier assembly and the pinion gear and install a new crush sleeve if you do it by the book, I have found that if the yoke is removed a new seal installed and the yoke tightened to about 50 foot lbs of torque it is ok, as far as the lube goes there is a plug on the cast case of the diff, it will either be a square drive plug or a large allen plug, fill the diff so you can just touch the fluid with your little finger, don't overfill or the axle seals will start leaking.