[DawgAaron]

Went to put some new tires on my '01 wrangler sport yesterday and everything went well except that I discovered that my rear end was leaking.

Talked to a mechanic friend of mine and, after he took a look at it, he said that it could be a pretty big deal.

Apparently this is a rather common thing in Jeeps, but mine is leaking at a higher rate than normal. There is evidence of blowback on the bottom of my gas tank from the thing leaking while i'm driving. I need some help on what to do.

I have a picture of the leak below. Hopefully that link will work.

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=1&attid=0.1&disp=inline&view=att&th=116ee8cea7 350fed

[Rocky529]

Link isn't working.. I'm trying to picture what is leaking. Is it just from where the cover mates with the differential?

[Wheelin98TJ]

Your link isn't working for me either.

Are you still driving your Jeep? If so, its important that you check your fluid level ASAP.

[DawgAaron]

I don't know why it's not working. Anyway, it looks like its leaking from the left side of the differential; where the axle goes into the differential case. Leaking pretty considerably too.
Do you know what would cause this?

I can email a picture if that would help.

Thanks.

[DawgAaron]

Yes, i'm still driving it. My mechanic told me that it would be good until i come in for an oil change in about a month.

[TheBoogieman]

Originally Posted by DawgAaron

Yes, i'm still driving it. My mechanic told me that it would be good until i come in for an oil change in about a month.

First thing I would do is look for a new mechanic

[tman204]

No doubt.... "Hey, that leak is normally abnormal!"

[DawgAaron]

anybody have any thing a little more helpful?

[tman204]

A picture of the leak would help a lot, but from what you describe, it sounds like the diff housing is cracked....

[EvilM0nkey]

the picture is linked to your mail inbox. you need to host the picture somewhere for us to see it.
try www.flickr.com

[Jerry Bransford]

Axle leaks are not all that uncommon and rarely are any of them serious. I doubt the housing is cracked which is very rare, it likely just needs a new seal at either the pinion shaft or hub bearing area. Keep it topped off until you can determine the source of the leak. A better link to a photo would be helpful.

[FLATFENDER54]

serious though - you need to change mechanics. If thats all he said was it looks serious/its a big deal ...............come back in a month. (that doesnt sound like a good mechanic to me)

[DawgAaron]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15788779@N06/2121232372/

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally Posted by DawgAaron

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15788779@N06/2121232372/

What about the front where the pinion seal is? If that isn't leaking, could the diff cover seal possibly be leaking? If neither, yeah it could be more than just a seal. I'd jack up the jeep by the frame so the axle can droop down as far as possible (taking the wheels off will reduce how high up you have to jack the frame up). That will let you look the axle over a little more easily so you can spot the source of the leak. Hopefully it's not leaking from where the axle tube is inserted into the pumpkin.

[DawgAaron]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

What about the front where the pinion seal is? If that isn't leaking, could the diff cover seal possibly be leaking? If neither, yeah it could be more than just a seal. I'd jack up the jeep by the frame so the axle can droop down as far as possible (taking the wheels off will reduce how high up you have to jack the frame up). That will let you look the axle over a little more easily so you can spot the source of the leak. Hopefully it's not leaking from where the axle tube is inserted into the pumpkin.

well i think it is leaking "from where the axle tube is inserted into the pumpkin". What does that mean??