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LIKE2BUILD's avatar
LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Jan 08, 2018

'14 Ram 2500 Axle Seals Leaking

My '14 2500 has 120,000 miles. This summer before a big trip pulling my 5th wheel out west I found both outer axle seals leaking. I replaced them along with the parking brake shoes and have pulled over 10,000 miles since then. I just recently found the seals are leaking again :(

What's the deal with this? The pinion seal is fine, but I'm going to check the vent hose check valve to make sure I'm not building up pressure in the axle. Is there anything else that would explain these seals going out again so quick?

During the first replacement I didn't see any obvious grooves or markings on the seal surface. Is there a ready-sleeve available for the axle tube? Or, is there a double lip seal to give extra surface area to hold in the gear lube?

Final question: what is the desired fill level in the axle? I found one person talking about filling only to 1/2" below the fill plug and others talking about filling up to the plug hole. Which is it? Can over filling the axle create problems like I'm having?

KJ
Tow Vehicles
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jan 08, 2018
    Are you following the diff fill procedure exactly or is it getting a bit too much fluid?
    On some years the plug in the diff was a bit higher than the seals in the axles and filling her all the way up would cause the seals to weep slightly.
  • LIKE2BUILD's avatar
    LIKE2BUILD
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2018
    ScottG wrote:
    Are you following the diff fill procedure exactly or is it getting a bit too much fluid?
    On some years the plug in the diff was a bit higher than the seals in the axles and filling her all the way up would cause the seals to weep slightly.

    I bought the truck used and noticed the leaky seals at 110,000 miles. When I replaced them I filled to the bottom of the fill plug.

    I don't have the exact fill procedure. Do you have a link to it? I'm finding references saying to fill with 4L of 75W90 and to be 1/4" below the fill hole with a +/- of 1/4". So basically that is saying you can fill between 1/2" below or right up to the hole.

    If filling right up to the hole causes problems for the seals it seems odd the fill procedure would allow for it.

    KJ
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jan 08, 2018
    LIKE2BUILD wrote:
    ScottG wrote:
    Are you following the diff fill procedure exactly or is it getting a bit too much fluid?
    On some years the plug in the diff was a bit higher than the seals in the axles and filling her all the way up would cause the seals to weep slightly.

    I bought the truck used and noticed the leaky seals at 110,000 miles. When I replaced them I filled to the bottom of the fill plug.

    I don't have the exact fill procedure. Do you have a link to it? I'm finding references saying to fill with 4L of 75W90 and to be 1/4" below the fill hole with a +/- of 1/4". So basically that is saying you can fill between 1/2" below or right up to the hole.

    If filling right up to the hole causes problems for the seals it seems odd the fill procedure would allow for it.

    KJ


    They kept changing it over the years - mine is like 1/2" below the filler (I think - have to recheck). Do you have the original owners manual? I think it will be in there.
    If not, you might check out The Turbo Diesel Registry and ask there.
    Good luck!

    Scott
  • garyp4951's avatar
    garyp4951
    Explorer III
    Jan 08, 2018
    On a floating axle hub seal I use grey permatex, and no problems.
  • LIKE2BUILD's avatar
    LIKE2BUILD
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2018
    garyp4951 wrote:
    On a floating axle hub seal I use grey permatex, and no problems.
    grey permatex on what? If you’re talking about the diff cover, yes I useRTV black to seal that. My problem is the oil seals on the outer wheel hubs. Or do you mean to use permatex on the metal outer surface of the seal where it presses into the hub? I haven’t torn into it yet so I don’t know exactly where it’s leaking but it do see oil slung on the insides of my rear wheels.

    KJ
  • Cummins12V98's avatar
    Cummins12V98
    Explorer III
    Jan 08, 2018
    You may want to consider the QUALITY of seal you used! I have filled to the bottom of the hole on all 4 RAM's I have owned.
  • Charlie_D_'s avatar
    Charlie_D_
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2018
    There is an item called Speedi-sleeve available at bearing companies. Has a small flange to allow a surface to drive the sleeve on and then is removed. Provides a new seal surface. Used them in the chemical industry and they work well. They will need the size of the shaft which would be the same as the I.D. of the seal. I have found that oil will weep between the O.D. of the seal and the ID. of the housing. Pematex should solve that problem.
  • LIKE2BUILD's avatar
    LIKE2BUILD
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2018
    Cummins12V98 wrote:
    You may want to consider the QUALITY of seal you used! I have filled to the bottom of the hole on all 4 RAM's I have owned.

    The replacement seals I used last summer were CarQuest brand, which obviously is made by someone else and put in their box. Typically I've had very good service from their parts as I've used CarQuest for 30 years.

    The original seals that failed would have been the OEM. I'll do some checking to see who makes the CarQuest branded seals.

    Good to know you fill to the bottom without issue. This whole deal has me baffled. I'm really wondering if there is a problem with the check valve in the vent hose. I'm going to look into that just to be certain I'm not building up pressure inside the axle.

    KJ
  • LIKE2BUILD's avatar
    LIKE2BUILD
    Explorer
    Jan 08, 2018
    Charlie D. wrote:
    There is an item called Speedi-sleeve....I have found that oil will weep between the O.D. of the seal and the ID. of the housing. Pematex should solve that problem.

    Right, I've also used speed-sleeves, I was just wondering if anyone might know the part# for the correct sleeve to use. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of time for this repair. The truck is currently my daily driver so I need to have all parts on-hand so I can do the repair and be back on the road the next day. I don't have time to tear down, take measurements, order parts, then wait for them to come in.

    With as much oil as I see in the inside of the wheel I'm guessing it will be hard to see exactly where the oil is coming from. But you're right, some permatex around the seal OD certainly won't hurt. I didn't see any obvious imperfections on the axle tube (seal ID surface) so I would have thought the new seals would fix things up. I've not had problems previously with oil leaking around the OD of seals but the extra protection using a sealant is a good idea.

    KJ
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jan 08, 2018
    Dont use Permatex on the AAM housing cover. It has a reusable rubber seal that does a great job.

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