Re:Front axle oil leak

Hi Folks,

We have a jimny that my Mrs uses for work. Last year I replaced the swivel seal and the king pin bearings. Recently the four wheel drive stopped working, I’m not in any rush but as it wasn’t clicking I assumed it was a vacuum issue so I planned to replace the vacuum pipes as a starting point. Two days ago there was a pool of oil under the drivers side front wheel which was clearly axle oil, I have just wiped the hubs off both sides but the oil seems to be leaking through the king pins, now when I had the king pins out a year ago I don’t remember any oil coming out of there when I undid them so I am wondering if there is another seal that might be responsible for the oil leak......any ideas?

No I’m pretty sure that’s what the problem is, I think those seals have gone.....any one have a link to replacing these,?

Yes that’s what shocked me I cleaned the two surfaces up and sealed them with some copper coloured sealant and did the 4 bolts up to the correct torque, but I was surprised that oil was getting that far across the axle, clearly I need to strip it down further and replace a seal further in

Assuming your kingpin bearings are still ok it's going to be the Axle tube half Shaft seal. If they have failed or are damaged oil from the axle will get past and pool in the swivel, eventually finding its way out even past the swivel seal if enough gets trapped.

You have already done the hard bit before, it's take it all apart as per the kingpin bearings, but when the half shaft is removed simply replace the seal. Martin (Big Jimny Store) sells them and his wiki video on "how to change kingpin bearings" shows the misuse of a claw hammer to remove and replace the half shaft seal (his words). Easy job to do once you are in.

Mike

Also make sure you fit the 9mm seal or you will end up doing it again next week.
Jimny store for the 'correct' seals.