Hello All,


A couple weeks ago I was under my truck (2001 5.4L 4x4 XLT with 185K Miles on it.) and noticed that I had a leak in each front axle. Right where the CV/hub assmebly meets the axle shaft. Parts 3 & 12 in the diagram below. No noise or odd behavior.



I took it into a local shop and asked them to replace the axle seals. It was a bit more than I wanted to tackle in the driveway and I read that you need a special tool to seat the seal.

Well after I go home picked it up from the shop I noticed lots of fresh grease in and around the passenger side wheel. And just wrote it off as spillage from the install and never gave it a second thought.

Today, 10 days and less than 20 miles later I noticed a squeak coming from that side. I looked and noticed that there was more grease all coming from the CV boot closest to the wheel. It's punched!
I jacked up that side and spun the wheel. There is a rubbing/squeaking noise coming from the exact spot where the axle seal was installed.

I called the shop and they said bring it in.

Can anyone tell me if the punched boot losing all its lube and a squeak at the other end of the axle be part of the same problem?

I realize I should probably just change out the hub/cv assembly anyway and probably will but I would like to know if the seal job was done correctly.

I'm not sure that the boot nearest to the wheel losing its grease would make the squeak or not.

Any comments or advice?

 

Well turned out that we just needed to slap some lub in there next to the seal. Noise is gone. Boot replaced. Will be replacing axle eventually but it's working for now. Just tested the 4x4 running well. Tight with no noises. Getting her ready for hunting season.