Jeep Wrangler Axle Seal Replacement (Dana 30 & 44 Axles)

[@RepairGeek]

Here are the parts and tools that I used in this video: Axle Seal (03-18 Wrangler): amzn.to/3p0Ui1X Axle Locker Plug (JK Rubicon): amzn.to/34tur9E Axle Seal Install Tool (Dana 30 & 44): amzn.to/3vvwKEQ Differential Gasket Dana 30: amzn.to/3fsobFc Differential Gasket Dana 44: amzn.to/3fxALTU RTV: amzn.to/3fXfmCB Gear Oil: amzn.to/3wJB0AY Astro "Big Nasty" Air Hammer: amzn.to/3fxe8P6 My Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/repairgeek Help support the channel, buy using my Amazon links As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and your cost is exactly the same.

[@RubiconUnlimited]

Nice work! I also snapped my Rubicon clip when doing mine. One step you're going to want to remember with the locker - when reinstalling the carrier, you need to fully extend that plunger near the pinion. Use a little dowel attached to some fishing line to hold it open. Once the carrier is installed you can pull on the line to remove your dowel. People forget to do this and end up bending the plunger

[@jvasq16]

What does the plunger do?

[@RubiconUnlimited]

@@jvasq16 it's what allows the vehicle to understand whether the locker is engaged or not. If this isn't seated properly you're going to have a bad time

[@jvasq16]

Ah I see. I didn't hold the plunger open when replaced the gears but it still locks. Light doesn't blink so I hope it's good

[@RubiconUnlimited]

@@jvasq16 okay good! Sounds like it works. But if you have issues down the line, look there first

[@jvasq16]

Awesome. Thanks a lot!!

[@Twiddlerdammit]

Excellent descriptions, general commentary, and lighting. No unnecessary fluff. Well done video.

[@St4rkG4ming]

That tool to press in the seal is AMAZING. Buying that for sure!

[@nickgiard8553]

Well I'm attempting this today on my d44. Your vid just made it easier! Glad I read the comments about the dowel for the plunger in the back

[@jrod8009]

My Son noticed a wet streak on the inside of my front passenger tire before leaving from Church tonight. I’ve got it to do. Your video was great! Excellent job! Made me realize one thing, without a lift, somebody else will get the satisfaction of a job well done; I have no desire to roll around on the gravel drive wrestling with pinion gears!

[@JasonDiggs]

Came for the differential removal, and stayed for the oil fart. Thanks!

[@jonnyr.8202]

My 2010 came from Canada as well, learning that most the parts needing replaced is harder to find in the states. Mainly everything need has need to be rewired

[@kromik6965]

I congratulate you! need your advice experience! I have a jeep wrangler jk, a dana 44 rear axle, 30 splines on the axles, satellites were repaired, replaced with new bearings, everything runs well. but at low speed sometimes you can hear in the area of ​​the wheel as if the knock is not big! removed the axle, everything is normal, there is no backlash. the sound is as if a bearing has failed, but it is intact.

[@josephbagonza5473]

Wow am happy that you are using the same procedure I use at my garage

[@dallaslancaster1197]

Your camera work answered some questions!!!

[@Samsonrecon8]

You sir are a champ. Love the video and thanks for the amazon links as well. Wish you continued success.

[@msc1064]

Great video dude I love your work ethic. You really know your stuff. Thank you again.

[@MarcoLemmetti]

I agree. A breaker bar would actually be good to get those 12 point sockets out of the wheel bearing go nice and slow and make sure they're nicely seated. Should be good to go.

[@Steven-k5b]

Life saver of a video.

[@Lego_SML]

Love the time stamps!!

[@DK-vx1zc]

very thorough neat job. Great explanation.. Thanks for sharing!

[@robertpc100]

good job,im not sure with the plunger switch on the electric, i have pneumatic rubicon locker so im not sure on your.really want a electronic torque wrench.good video!!

[@wvjeepguy8178]

You can use a set of shim drivers to install the shims separately from the differential. The tool is made for that specific use.

[@richardbyrum4618]

Great job and good video

[@dermontratzel]

Super helpful! About to do this to my 08.

[@richtyler8034]

Great job thank you I’m doing this on Sunday

[@brandonlemarr7530]

Man what a great video! Very detailed and good info, thank you!

[@Kimblesgarage]

While I’m fixing this I’m going to be constantly repeating to myself, quite angrily, “this is why we don’t go 90 on the freeway” lol

[@EZapar]

Links used, thanks very much for the video.

[@cameron339]

Great job! Very thorough.

[@joshuakazfields4374]

👍🏽 good job I’ll be watching

[@HapaHeritage]

Thank you for the helpful video👍

[@mustafah4087]

What about the plunger behind the locker? Do you need to do anything with that when removing? I seen people put a tooth pick in between it with a piece of string then when the carrier is installed they yank on the string and pull the tooth pick out?

[@mikimiki195]

Thanks for great video 🙏🏻

[@Basslicks82]

I've got the same shirt. Love me some Roadkill!

[@bluerhino_jk]

Superb video!

[@pablitog8856]

Very nice video,, explain very well,.. thanks for helping,, here's my subscription and my 👍

[@azulmarinoify]

A breaker bar helps a lot !

[@jeffcarpenter6306]

I am trying to put my carriage back into my Dana 44. not easy on the ground. When I put the shims back in and try to push in the carriage the shims back out is there a better way to get the shims and the carriage to move in correctly. Each side has two shims back to back. Looking at your video I see you held the shims next to the carriage and put them in partially and then put the carriage bracket on to push it in. Is that the best way. I am working on a 2017 Jeep Wrangler sport JK Dana 44

[@johncooper4637]

Well mine is leaking and I thought I would fix the seal UNTIL I saw I had to take out the diff as well as the other axle. I will leave that to someone with a lift. That would be a very hard job on jack stands.

[@wvjeepguy8178]

It's not too awful bad. Reinstalling the carrier with shims outside of the bearings is the hardest part.

[@surfride101]

Other videos from DIYer, invariably skip adding RTV to the seal before pressing them in, thanks for the clarification. Getting ready to r&r my 04 Rubicon front... From the video being a 2014, it appears the axle lock actuator is now electronic vs. pneumatic in my generation. Do I need to take any additional steps removing the carrier w/ the pneumatic actuated locker? To confirm: leave the lock sensor alone? Do you have an opinion re aftermarket outer seals? Thanks!

[@IJackDaWackI]

The spicer seals come with a red sealant ring, so the rtv isn't necessary depending on what you use. JEEP uses these seals on dana44 axles and is a pita to remove and clean off.

[@gnaczynski]

Very Good video I m changed front seals but still leak oil comming from driver side 😳 driveshaft ?! Croocked?

[@wvjeepguy8178]

Tube is bent or your vent is clogged. It's also possible that you damaged the new seal during assembly.

[@jennymarohn4539]

You are AWESOME!! Thanx

[@earfman7527]

Wow amazing job, you're very talented.

[@ethamaxx]

Hi, thank you for this video! A Jeep dealer replaced the axle shaft and axle seals on my Dana 44 with Trac-Lok and a few hundred miles after I got it back the Jeep started grinding a little and making a loud rotational noise. They told me pinion bearing and carrier bearings need to be replaced and they were misaligned. They said this is just a coincidence and not related to their work. Just wondering if this is true or are they just trying not to take responsibility for the damage?

[@RepairGeek]

It depended on what failed first. If the carrier bearings failed first, that probably wiped out the pinion bearings. If the pinion went first it took out the carriers. Unfortunately there is no way to PROVE what went out first. If the carrier bearings were destroyed first, 100% they probably mixed up the shims. You would have had noise in the front end basically as soon as you got it back I would think...

[@aussiecorvettec8]

Great video. The seals you took out, were they the 2 part seals?

[@anthonybailey9956]

I need to do this repair, thank you for making this video. Will the axle seal install tool stop when the seal is fully seated?

[@RepairGeek]

Yes.

[@tonylopez345]

Can you use a differential seal/gasket in place of the RTV?

[@RepairGeek]

You can.

[@tonylopez345]

@@RepairGeek Can you use both. I'm doing this project this coming weekend

[@ChromeForDays]

@@tonylopez345 Yes. Some folks will put a little RTV on the gasket to hold it in place, on the non-rubber side.

[@PaulMcClellanmn]

Whynot just take the break router off a d leave tje caliper on it?

[@clyse88]

so is this required when doing ball joints? i know it would be the best time to ever do this but the extra work...

[@mustafah4087]

No but if you have noticed oil puddling at the end of your diff it would be a great time to do it, I’m getting ready to do these seals and ball joints, just waiting on parts

[@FreedomFoamTN]

Great video! I just popped my ring gear out and the shims fell out, I don’t t know which one is left and right! Any suggestions???

[@nhmtb]

This is my biggest concern about trying this myself. How did you make out putting it back together?

[@FreedomFoamTN]

@@nhmtb i bought a cheap dial indicator and put the shims in until I was within spec. Wasn’t too bad.

[@daddioisik8217]

Those 12 point x 3 bolts on the hub assembly are the biggest challenge here. I’m in the rust belt in Canada, underestimated them bolts and stripped one. I had to weld a nut on it afterwards with whole bunch of swearing and cursing. Still a mystery to me why they had to put a 12 point bolts there so close to the ground and likely to rust easily.

[@IJackDaWackI]

I cut off the backs of the bolts, penetrating oil, and pounded on the 18pt sockets, the bolts came out pretty easy... you really only get one shot when they are rusted that bad

[@JamMaul]

I got the same issues mechanic says 2k to get it fixed is that right estimate for this job??

[@robertpc100]

you forgot to push your locker switch on inside or rather hold the switch out with a little wood piece on string or do you have to do that on the electric type so you know if your locked or un locked?

[@tmorfiny]

I replaced my axle seals last year and I had to use a dowel and fishing line in order to push it in before putting the differential in place

[@dylanreynolds4899]

Just got back from a wheeling trip and when i was looking everything over i noticed a pretty bad leak coming from around the area where the front drive shaft meets the back of the dana 30. Is that a bad seal?

[@RepairGeek]

Yep sounds like the pinion seal.

[@IsaacMartinez-yk4ml]

How many shims go on each side ?

[@willberetta8616]

How long did this take from start to finish?

[@beyondfirstthought6814]

If the outer seal is the problem, is there a problem with only changing that seal, or is it necessary to go into the gears and change the inner seal?

[@RepairGeek]

There is no "outer" seal. Only inner.

[@wvjeepguy8178]

Only rear axles have the outer seal, so those won't also have an inner seal.

[@jessewatt5528]

You think I could use my jack handles to pop out the old seals

[@ChromeForDays]

I was thinking about that, as well. Maybe some lengths of PVC pipe would probably work, or maybe even an old broom handle. I ordered a 36" pry bar but it'll arrive after I need it (of course).

[@mr_man444]

Instead of fighting the tie rod, just take off one of the nuts on either end and move it out of the way?

[@carlosdiaz655]

Question so reinstalling the differential do I leave the pin that sticking out or push it in? I’m guessing it’s for the locker

[@RepairGeek]

Pin? What's is the time in the video so I can see what you're talking about.

[@carlosdiaz655]

@@RepairGeek 14:35

[@RepairGeek]

@@carlosdiaz655 that pin did not move. I just left it alone. I didn't do anything with it.

[@carlosdiaz655]

@@RepairGeek ok cool thank you! Looks like a smooth installation for this weekend 👌🏽

[@TheSchmed]

Would have just got a lubelocker gasket and painted that Diff cover.

[@jerrywhalen2100]

All that rusted and no signs of anti-seize sinful in my neck of the woods😧

[@JoseRamirez-ie2bk]

Hey brother where can I find bits for Impact hammer but thicker, heavy dutty,,,thanks

[@RepairGeek]

I've had good luck with these for a standard .401 shank: amzn.to/34AJU7z The air hammer I was using in this video is a .498 shank. It is much harder on bits. I haven't found any chisel that will keep an edge in that size.

[@brianandglendaharkin9457]

👍🏻💯🇦🇺⛽️

[@spiridondimaris465]

Go on job geeks as all ways

[@glockhitz]

Great video, dont worry about the elocker plugs they always break they are $10 each crown part number J112271