Towing Vehicle...................

[CarpFishermanAn]

We have been home now for 2 weeks after our 8 day vacation in North Alabama with the TT. Great vacation, weather was either severe storms or sunny days.
TV was a little light on the front end but manageable, 7 1/2hr trip.

Question: after being home for 2 weeks, this morning I noticed two drops of oil underneath my truck on the concrete driveway, after closer inspection, it appears that the drive shaft that connects to the differential has a leaking seal issue!!, could this be just a coincidence or has towing the TT made a mechanical issue, TV is a 05 XLT 5.4 F150 with factory heavy duty towing package.

Any idea's..............

Thanks..

[BurbMan]

FWIW, I had a leaky pinion seal replaced and it still leaked...the old seal had worn a groove into the yoke and the new seal wouldn't mate with it, had to get the yoke replaced too.

If you have a GOOD axle shop in your area that would be a better bet than the dealer IMO. Restoring the correct torque on the pinion nut is essential to maintaining the right gear clearance, and the wrong torque on that nut will ruin you rear axle quickly.

[CarpFishermanAn]

B.O. Plenty wrote:
Bring it to a Ford dealer. Get genuine parts, trained technicians, a real warranty on repairs for about the same cost or less than paying some unskilled kid at a gas station or tire store.

B.O.

My truck always goes to the Ford dealer, it was only a 3 months ago I had the diff oil changed and the engine oil changed 3 weeks ago, its looked after, so the truck will be going in for the seal to be changed in the next 2 weeks.

Thanks for the comments....................

[B_O__Plenty]

Bring it to a Ford dealer. Get genuine parts, trained technicians, a real warranty on repairs for about the same cost or less than paying some unskilled kid at a gas station or tire store.

B.O.

[Golden_HVAC]

Don't take it to AMMCO, they will make a $150 seal replacement into a $3,500 transmission rebuild! Look for a shop that can change it for a fixed fee. Get several quotes. Try calling the shops and see if they will quote something over the phone.

Anyway 2 drops is really nothing to worry about. When it starts to leak a little more, I would get concerned. It might also be due to in-activity. How long is the truck normally parked between uses? I had a leaking rear axle seal on my motorhome, more due to it not moving every month, then anything else.

I had all the seals replaced on my F-350 C6 transmission for $350 back in 1993. It was a independent shop, and they where charging by the hour about $60 per hour + a rebuild gasket kit that was about $50.

Fred.

[SC_camper]

Pinion seal leaks are pretty common on Fords. I dont see it being towing related.

[Boxerslave]

Sounds like pinion seal, 10 years old will make the rubber hard and brittle. Make sure that who ever changes the seal also checks that the vent hose and cap are clear. If either are plugged the gear oil expanding due to temp will be forced out the pinion or axle seals. Proper torque on the pinion nut after seal change is critical, too tight or too loose equally bad.

[ScottG]

hmknightnc wrote:
Just a coincidence. It is a 10 year old truck. Just get it fixed, not a big deal

Agreed.
And towing has no effect on this seal.

[hmknightnc]

Just a coincidence. It is a 10 year old truck. Just get it fixed, not a big deal

[CarpFishermanAn]

x5rdman wrote:
What size trailer were you towing and were you using a WD hitch?

WD unit is a Husky with a Husky sway bar.

[x5rdman]

What size trailer were you towing and were you using a WD hitch?

[Terryallan]

Have it fixed. And before you tow again, adjust the hitch to get the front axle back down

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Just coincidence IMHO.