I have a 97 Dodge Ram 1500 and both my front left and rear left axle seals are leaking oil. I was planning to change out the seals but i have never done it before and was hoping someone could give me some step by step instructions on how to replace them?
You probably have something draining your battery when the car is not running.
I feel the best advice I could give you is go buy a repair manual for your make and model all so check the bearings
If you are easily discouraged forget the manual and hire it done. If you have a 4wd, the front seal is inside the housing next to the differential and requires complete disassembly to change. If it is the wheel bearing seal leaking, the bearing and hub are replaced as a unit.The rear seals are really fun. Remove the differential cover. Locate the screw that holds the spider gears in and remove it. Remove the pin and be careful not to lose the shims between the gear and carrier. I have assumed that you have removed the wheel and the brake drums. Push in on the end of the axle and remove the horse shoe clip on the inner end of the axle and pull the axle out. Get a puller to pull the bearing and seal and replace with new bearing and seal. While you have it apart, do both sides. Reassemble in reverse order. Use RTV silicone for the cover gasket and refill with EP80-85 gear lube. If you have a Sure-Grip be sure to add the Chrysler friction modifier.
if its spicer series axle under it your in for a lot of work ,if its the regular axle then they aren't to bad to swap out,but dis assembly is required on most of them and better left to a shop,on the spicers you have to drop the gears out of it because they press in from the gear housing and its no fun at all to do,what a shop charges is well worth paying believe me i have did enough of them to know,its a big job and takes a lot of know how to do it right,if you mess up on installing the gears back in thats the end of the differential,good luck.
