Leaks, need some quick info/help

[rollthecoal7.3]

Ok so when it comes to my motor or my tranny im golden I can do pretty much anything I need. Drivetrain...not so much. Ok so since my truck was hit and ran i have been really tearin it a new a$$ tons of new parts and cleaning everything! So today I noticed my drivers side front axle seal is leaking pretty bad! whats it take to do this job? also while doing this i would like to replace the axle u joints to be safe..Is this going to be one of those yelling, swearing and trying not to choke my roommate projects? next I found that the very front seal of my transfer case where the driveline bolts on is also leaking plus the silicone gasket where the two pieces of the tranfercase seal. How hard will that be to split the case and put back together?

[NoRalPh]

The axle seal is a bigger job than you want to pay somebody else to do! You can do it, I'm sure the only reason you say "no so much" is just a lack of experience,,,, Now's the time to get some

First thing is, the seal you see at the end of the tube is Not the axle seal. The seal is actually inside at the other end of the tube next to the center section. You're Really going to get some driveline experience here You have to pull both axles, drain & remove the diff cover, unbolt the caps and take the ring gear & carrier out. Then, you can get at the seals (how bad did you say it was leakin' ? )

Also, there are these expensive Knuckle Seals in the hubs that cost as much as the U-Joints (and yes, once you've got those in your hand you might as well replace them) and if they've been in there a while, you're going to destroy them getting them out.

So, you need U-joints, Knuckle seals, dust seals (the things that are actually at the end of the tube you see), O-Rings, might as well put needle brgs in the hubs (they're cheap), diff fluid, a Couple of thousand dollar job at the dealership (how bad's that leak?)

The TC not too bad to get out (Top bolt can drive you crazy) good time to inspect the rest of the U-joints in the front driveline as well as that ball & spring in the cardan joint. Splitting the case is pretty straight forward, you need some big sockets to get the yolks off, lots of little bolts hold it together (Again, leaking real bad is it ?)

Curing the leaks you describe is going to take some effort, I'm sure you can do it, just have to weigh the job vs the amount of fluid you have to keep putting back in....

[rollthecoal7.3]

Im not exactly sure which seal is bad, its leaking enough to soak the bottom of the knuck and create a small puddle after time. I really dont want to try and get that indepth with it because I dont have a garage my truck fits in.so im wondering if its the seal or Oring on the outside closest to the tire? Didnt have a problem until les schwab did the ball joins!

[NoRalPh]

At the end of the tube, closest to the tire, that seal is the "dust" seal and not meant to hold back oil. The axle tube is supposed to be dry.... (again, the oil seal is at the other end.)

Start checking the diff fluid weekly, that will tell you if that's your source. If you just had the ball joints changed it's also possible you're seeing leaked Power Steering fluid because it "pukes" out of the reservoir when the wheels are turned back and forth without the engine running. Likely they did that at Schawb.