[lump_a_charcoal]

What would cause a rear axle seal to prematurely fail in a Sierra?

Bent axle, worn axle, what else?

At the moment I am getting about 8-9 months out of a rear axle seal, which sux!

[want33s]

Most times premature failure is due to the way the axle was put back into the diff tube causing damage to the seal.

[Scrawny]

The way the seal was fitted, seal surface on the axle worn, bearing play?

I personally don't think aftermarket seals are any worse than genuine ones

[lump_a_charcoal]

Surface maybe, bearings are about a year old - mechanic is pretty good.

[shep]

bent housing, leaking air locker.

[Scrawny]

Then just use Steves method of replacing everything till it's fixed

[lump_a_charcoal]

Yeah I am concerned it might be the housing - Airlocker isn't on enough for that to be it.

[zukmeista]

Mud???

[lump_a_charcoal]

Nope, not recently.

[Zookin_85]

Has the axle been out with in the last say 3 weeks?
If it has then i would say the seal has been pinched, I have to replace mine as i nicked the seal when refitting my axe the other week and it is now weeping.
I would look at replacing the hub seal.

If it always happens what side does it happen on??
or is it both?

[lump_a_charcoal]

It hasn't been out since the last time it was replaced, about 9 months ago.

[Zookin_85]

Is it one side all the time our both?

[weaves]

Diff breather isn't blocked? causing the diff to pressurise?

[joeblow]

you get a year out of standard bearings?....thats pretty good.

[lump_a_charcoal]

Zookin_85 wrote:

Is it one side all the time our both?

Passenger side more often I think

[lump_a_charcoal]

weaves wrote:

Diff breather isn't blocked? causing the diff to pressurise?

breather is good, both sides would leak if it was blocked I reckon.

[lump_a_charcoal]

joeblow wrote:

you get a year out of standard bearings?....thats pretty good.

You serious?

[BlueSuzy]

lump_a_charcoal wrote:

joeblow wrote:

you get a year out of standard bearings?....thats pretty good.

You serious?

x2!

[adrian_gadaleta]

damaged/non existent splashguard inside the housing will cause more oil to reach the seal, increasing heat and wear and would be more likely to fail.

[whincup]

adrian_gadaleta wrote:

damaged/non existent splashguard inside the housing will cause more oil to reach the seal, increasing heat and wear and would be more likely to fail.

sorry to hijack thread, but ive had the same problemi have the diff centre out too at the moment, is it possible for someone to explain what these splash guards look like & where they're meant to be?? please

[lump_a_charcoal]

OK turns out it had some grit in it, which chewed the seal out a bit.

[BlueSuzy]

adrian_gadaleta wrote:

damaged/non existent splashguard inside the housing will cause more oil to reach the seal, increasing heat and wear and would be more likely to fail.

I have not ran a splash guard in my rhs since i did the seal. yonks ago.

I put the seal in, then, oh whats this doova? oh well. She'll be right, and she has! Don't ask me where it is now though..

[Dale]

Mate and I get about 6months (max) for the rear wheel bearings, the seals get replaced then.

Seals can often go bad once excess play develops in the bearings.

[Hybrid]

Why would it leak both sides if the breather was blocked? I would expect it to build up pressure until one side went then it would just vent via that one failed seal.

Water and mud was always the culprit back in my young/dumb/no breather extension days.

[lump_a_charcoal]

Hybrid wrote:

Why would it leak both sides if the breather was blocked? I would expect it to build up pressure until one side went then it would just vent via that one failed seal.

Water and mud was always the culprit back in my young/dumb/no breather extension days.

Yes, good point.