[Midtenn]

After about 1.5 hrs of reading threads about the front axle, I really haven't discovered anything but the fact that the vent tube on my 97 4x4 should be on the end of the axle tube. There is a good amount of gear oil coming out of the front axle vent tube. I have changed the gear oil and only achieved getting clean fluid out the vent tube.

Quick list of things (some maybe unrelated) leading up to vent tube leak:
- Got truck stuck in soft ground and I could not get 4wd to engage (after reading, this is probably a vacuum problem)
- Soon after, I started noticing fluid in passenger fender well, thought it might have been a ripped axle boot. After inspecting the the boots, I found it was the axle vent. At that point I started driving it on a limited basis.
- One day while using the truck to setup for a local SCCA event, I was in the bed while the truck was being driven and noticed gear on gear noise coming from up front (not whine, but more of old gears with little lube) I changed the fluid and found the drain plug was "caked" with material, but as old as the fluid looked, I figured it may have been the original fluid (with 150k on it!). As mentioned above, it's still leaking out the vent. Even to the point that is leaves spots all down the side of the passenger side after driving down the interstate.

My guess is that the R&P are toast now (by the gear on gear noise). Is there a write up on removing the front differential assembly? Where is a good place to get new, quality R&P and bearings? I will probably have a local off road shop or mechanic actually do the differential work. Is it worth just finding the axle assembly from another 4x4 and replacing it?

Thanks,

Andrew