What am I looking at here?

[Smokngun]

I have been degreasing under the Jeep to hone in on an oil leak. I was looking at other places under the Jeep and noticed this part in the pic. It is on the rear axel. I am a complete newbie so any guidance would be nice. The rubber has significant dry rot. Where would I buy the replacement?

 

[jjvw]

That is the Rubicon locker sensor.

 

[Smokngun]

Do you have to take the axel off to replace it?

 

[JKP]

DO NOT TAKE the sensor out of the diff!! If you do, you will have to remove the carrier inside the diff to correctly put it back in. Def not a newbie job.

That is just an electrical connector. You can disconnect it from the sensor, clean it up and put a new cover over the wires if necessary.

Also, the factory manuals for your Jeep are available under Resources. They will be a huge help.

 

[jjvw]

Do you have to take the axel off to replace it?

No. You have to remove the wheels, brakes, axle shafts and the differential. The axle can stay where it is. Why are you wanting to replace it?

 

[Smokngun]

No. You have to remove the wheels, brakes, axle shafts and the differential. The axle can stay where it is. Why are you wanting to replace it?

I assumed that because of the leaking around it that it needed replacement. It sounds like more than I could do anyway. I will try a new cover on it like the other fella suggested.

 

[JKP]

You can try tightening it if it's leaking around the threads.

If it's leaking through the sensor, you could remove it and plug the hole. This would result in the locker light blinking and never going solid when you engage the locker. The locker would still work.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

"Guaranteed Best Price"

ONE HUNDRED THIRTYONE FRIGGIN DOLLARS AND FIFTEEN FRIGGIN CENTS!!!!

Unless that ad price is accidentally 5 times too high I have a different F word to share with them and the others.

And I'm not even going to look up what it supposedly costs because I'd hate to end up like this guy so early today.