Leaking transfer case

Tldelaney

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Joined
Jun 29, 2019
Messages
525
Location
San Antonio, Texas
Just changed my rear main seal and found out i am still leaking, looks to be red fluid and it got worse after i installed jks budget MML. It seems to run on the underside all the way to the rear output. Any idea where to start looking?

Edit: this was after a drive to pick my son up. I carb cleaned it before to verify RMS wasnt leaking. Now, that i think about it, my transfer skid plate started looking awfully oily after last wheeling trip.

Leaking happens when vehicle is on. Drop the skid, spray the case clean and run vehicle to find leak?

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How can you be sure it's the transfer case? I diagnosed a leak once using UV oil dye.
 
How can you be sure it's the transfer case? I diagnosed a leak once using UV oil dye.

Not sure, The rear main seal is dry and there is oil underneath the whole tran/bell housing. I cleaned it again and oil or transfer case oil is seeping in the crack between the bell housing and tran. that doesnt explain where the rest of the oil is coming from underneath bell housing.

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It's not uncommon to install a RMS several times before they stop leaking.
 
Red fluid sounds like ATF. Clean it all, run it and inspect for the source of the leak. You could get lucky and have an output shaft seal leak. That is not uncommon and not difficult to fix. Also the o-ring from the speedo housing can leak as well. If you think or find the leak is between the tranny and transfer, you will have to pull the transfer case out and re-seal it. Not a big deal actually. If you have really high miles, have a little fun and refurbish the whole unit. Not costly. No such thing as too much maintenance.
 
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