Front Axle Seal On A Dana 27

I am about to put everything back together with a Dana 25. From all the research i have done and replies to my posts here, the John Deer CornHead grease is the best. Even when i went to my JD dealer locally they stated all the "wheeler" guys use this stuff.

 

Trying to figure out where my leak is stemming from and it kind of looks like between #7 and 9 from the first diagram in post 2. Any ideas what this could be from?

 

What is leaking? Gear oil from the diff? Where are you seeing it? There is a oil seal near the diff that keeps the gear oil in the diff. It shouldn't make it out that far if that seal is good.

 

Looks to me like its coming from somewhere between the hub and the spindle. The top bearing cap is clean but the bottom has evidence of oil being leaked onto it. It's been sitting for about a month and noticed it on my brakes and wheels. I do have the disc brake conversion if that helps.

The oil is hard to tell what type. I used gear oil in the axle and the knuckle has the grease/oil mix. Maybe its separating?

 

Yeah could be separating. Like i posted earlier the experts pointed me to JD Corn Head Grease as it holds up better. #7 is not a seal so it wont hold anything back as its a bushing. Since you say its leaking from the lower bearing cap it could still be either the inner seal or the grease sep. But if its getting into your brakes too, it could also be leaking through the spindle bolts but thats less of a chance.

 

Thanks! I meant between 6 (spindle) and 9 (knuckle); sorry for that. I dont think its actually leaking from the lower bearing cap but there is a buildup of gunk there. I think its dripping from somewhere above. Both sides too. Was just driver's side for a bit. The jeep has been sitting for about 4 months with only driving it in and out of the garage at least once a month.

 

How does the knuckle to ball seals look? They are easy to replace.

 

I don’t know if it is acceptable to add a new question to an old thread, but as I have been taught, better to ask forgiveness than permission!
I just reinstalled my axle housings and leafs on the frame. Can I leave the housings on to remove the carrier, or does it need to be on a work bench? Other question is what lubricates the front axles? From the diagrams I have seen, it looks like the oil seals at the pumpkin would keep the diff oil out of the axle shaft housings, but they are open to the steering knuckle grease. Does the steering knuckle grease make its way onto the axle shafts?

edit: I think I answered my questions. carrier is out, oil seals and axle guides are out. Just looking into whether I need to replace the axle guidesnext to the inner oil seals.