So I noticed under my jeep that I had a drip coming from the rear differential . I was under my TJ about a week ago and everything was bone dry. I touched my finger to the drip and saw it was red, which made me instantly think the transfer case. I recently replaced the transfer case fluid a few months ago and the rear SYE seal. I was hoping for something simple like the vent tube came off or something. The TC is a bit oily but the majority of the oil is actually on the trans/TC stock skid plate and the rear differential. I looked at the drain plug, fill plug, speedo sensor, SYE seal and nothing looks like it is leaking. Since it was dry a week ago and now is leaking pretty bad to get the rear end of the TJ covered in oil. I cannot find any obvious sign on where it is leaking from. I checked my TC fluid level and it was about a 1/4 inch low. I am going to be degreasing the entire area later today or tomorrow to try and find it. If anyone has had this issue or has any insight I would greatly appreciate it. I am wondering if it could be a crack in the TC or maybe the seal that connects the two halves. Since I don't see any clear indications of where it is coming from and have a suspicious feeling it is coming from the bottom side of the TC. Thanks in advanced.
Mysterious transfer case leak
- Thread starter jazz-n-tj
- Start date
Check the threads on the transfer case output yoke nut. My SYE had instructions to put some RTV on the threads and the yoke nut flange to prevent oil from leaking through the yoke splines and out from the yoke nut.
@freedom_in_4low I believe I did that when I replaced the seal but I can check. With how much is covered in ATF from the transfer case rearward I would think it would be obvious where it is coming from and have clear drips but nowhere is dripping from what I can see. It is just all evenly coated in AFT and dirt (I went off roading near Johnson Valley a few days ago). I just dergreased the entire area and will be rinsing it off in a few minutes. I'll drive it around town and see if I can see anything more clearly. Hopefully it is something simple.
let us know what you find. That's the thing about those yoke spline leaks; since the yoke spins it just flings oil everywhere, with no clear drips.
@Jerry Bransford that is exactly what it was. Once I cleaned it, the leaks location was obvious. It was weird not seeing a clear drop from that location and that it was so evenly distributed. I already got a new o-ring and everything is staying dry. Hopefully I don’t nick this one when installing it. I did replace my speedo sensor to correct my speed months ago. It surprised me that it took months for the leak to develop.
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