Rear seal leaking and the axle shaft bending on a 2002 Jeep Liberty

ANSWER : A lot of things can go wrong. You want to pray that it’s not the actual part of the engine worn and wobbling and eating the seal out, because if the shaft is bent (and this often happens) –you’d want to check the motor and transmission mounts, too. Because, if the motor or transmission mounts are worn, then the engine and transmission bounces around a lot and the shaft bounces too much and starts to leak.

A lot of times, that’s it. Now, when it comes to the seal, my advice is to go to the dealer. Go to a Jeep dealer and buy the seals from them. You don’t want to mess with the aftermarket because you want something that is perfectly made. I myself sometimes have gotten aftermarket seals for those and I put them on and they leaked a month or two later because the seals were bad. Now, when I work on those, the only things I use are the dealer’s Jeep seals. I won’t buy them anywhere else.

ANSWER : You didn’t mention that you had the axle replaced but if you did the new axle may be the wrong one for your car, or you may have to get the replacement axle and seal from the dealer.

This vehicle in particular may have had a certain year of seal and axle, which then changed during the following year or mid year. The only way to get it correct may require the specific dealer parts by using your VIN number, it’s the only way to get the correct ones if you keep having issues with aftermarket parts. I’d recommend having a certified mechanic diagnose it to help you find the right replacement for your axle shaft seal.

ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in. I recommend buy the Toyota OEM part. Although we could go into high detail as to the precise technical differences amongst the various and competing aftermarket seals you are describing, such will not change the conclusion at all. Generally speaking, aftermarket parts are NOT as good as the factory OEM parts. Large car manufacturers spend hundreds of millions of dollars, indeed billions, developing the technologies used in these vehicles and ALL of the parts are extraordinarily carefully engineered to fit very precisely and perform specific functions. In the aftermarket, they try to duplicate that, but more often than not, it does not work. Toyota OEM quality in particular is not duplicated well, if not at all, in the aftermarket.

ANSWER : With the age of the vehicle, a worn / failed pinion seal is the most likely cause. Inspect the pumpkin and cover for any damage. If it is apparent that the pinion seal is leaking, make sure the pinion bearing is inspected for excessive play. A worn bearing can eat through a new seal quickly. Have a certified technician inspect the axle and if found to be the cause, replace the pinion seal. Have it done as soon as possible. At the same time, have the axle seals inspected as well. Low gear oil level in the axle will damage gears and bearings in no time.

ANSWER : Aloha. Ah – the infamous "it’s all gone" excuse. To be quite blunt, you’re being ripped off. If a professional mechanic can’t explain what exactly is damaged with any mechanical component, they are taking advantage of you. I would get your car back and contact a different mechanic. Or, feel free to send us some information about the symptoms your car is experiencing that led you to take the car to the mechanic in the first place. Maybe we can help diagnose your issue and allow you to bring that info to a different mechanic. Mahalo.

ANSWER : Hi there. Remove the wheels from the vehicle with the vehicle on jack stands and remove all of the brakes. Then behind the brake spider plate, there is 4 bolts that is holding the axle shaft in place. Remove the bolts and remove the axle shaft. Use a seal remover and remove the seal. Put the new seal in and put the axle shaft back in. Install the bolts and torque them to spec. Then put the brakes back together and put the wheel back on and torque the lug nuts to spec. If you need further assistance with replacing the axle shaft seal, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : The leak on the axle seal may be minor if you did not notice the level to be low when you checked it. I cannot say it will last for 2 and a half hours of driving, since this is when the differential will get the hottest and may leak worse. I suggest having a mechanic diagnose your oil leak and have it repaired before going on the trip, since a cheap repair now may become an expensive repair if you drive it and the rear end locks up after it lost all its oil.

In the meantime, feel free to read more on differential/gear oil in this article.

ANSWER : Hi there. It’s quite possible that this is a rear oil seal or oil pan gasket that is leaking; or perhaps a transmission oil tube seal that is leaking. The problem with trying to diagnose an oil leak is that typically the oil tends to spray onto different components underneath the vehicle. You might want to have a professional mechanic complete an oil leak inspection to help you locate the source of the leak and recommend the right repairs.