Keith Browning Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 I am a bit mystified by this one I am afraid to admit! Its a 2002 F650 Super Crewzer with a 17,500 lb, Rockwell single speed rear axle. Warm it up and hit the highway and gear lube spits out of the vent! I looked for housing cracks and so forth, found none. Maybe a closer look is in order. The customer dumped a bit of fluid in it and when I got it I added a couple quarts and some dye /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif which is what led me to the breather. I replaced it though it looked okay. I serviced the axle with new fluid thinking it might be foaming with 91,000 long miles on it. Still spits out lube. Seems odd to me. I mean, its not like an axle constantly builds pressure like a crankcase would so maybe it has to do with oil slinging and running down the inside of the housing... never noticed any sort of a baffle inside of a housing before. Anybody ever see anything like this? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shrug.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Anybody ever see anything like this? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shrug.gif Yes, but I don't remember what the chassis was, maybe a GM. There's a TSB on it and I "think" the fix was to install a remote vent on a hose. This thing isn't overfilled at all, right? It's from slinging oil off the axle shaft, right? Good Luck! PS I've installed many remote breathers on chemical trucks to keep the dripping chemicals from trashing the diffs..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted September 25, 2007 Author Share Posted September 25, 2007 This thing isn't overfilled at all, right? It's from slinging oil off the axle shaft, right? You would think this is a simple question to which I will say no because I followed the service manual instructions on draining and filling. Before you think I have never worked on a truck before, I read the manual on this because there are THREE plugs in this axle housing. One is the drain in the bottom obviously. Up on the punkin' there are TWO plugs with one being higher than the other. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/scratchhead.gif Using the one that is higher because it looks like the one in the manual and the required amount of gear oil used, was very close to the specification. That would be too easy! And now, you got me thinking twice about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Up on the punkin' there are TWO plugs with one being higher than the other. Are they the same size? Mebbe one is smaller for an axle temp sender? I'd use the one that's "just" above the bottom of the axle tube. The owner's manual calls for either 35 or 40 pints, depending on which axle it is (plus 1.6 if the hubs were off). Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LARRY BRUDZYNSKI Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Keith I can't find the part # right now, but there are 2 different vents for them. 1 of them mounts close to the housing the other is extended away from the housing. I will try to find the TSB on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted September 26, 2007 Author Share Posted September 26, 2007 Update (in case anyone is tuning in) This concern defies reason. I cannot find any reason why, after 91,000 miles this thing started spewing fluid. It has new gear oil, no *leaks,* a new breather, makes no noise, no debris on the magnets and is properly filled. I called the experts and they only came up with the same possibilities I have, all of which have been eliminated. My service manager walked up to me while I was holding the vent in my hand. I was deep in thought considering what my next move was going to be. He suggested that maybe there is a leak elsewhere in the assembly allowing air to enter while driving thus forcing air and oil out of the breather. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/notworthy.gif "try the smoke machine" and I did. The axle held 10" water and no smoke to show other than what's coming out my ears. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smhair.gif I thought about what Bruce and Larry mentioned about a remote breather. Now, the breather is sitting 3" above the axle thanx to a piece of 3/8 brass tubing and a connector. I cleaned it off and put dye in the fresh gear oil. Tomorrow it will go for another road test with one of our drivers. Since I cant find a problem with the rear and identify the cause, I'll treat the symptom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron_Johnson Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 It should be a Mertitor axle....They do the same thing in all of the trucks. Freightliner had a bulliten on those axles in thier trucks I believe. Try arvinmeritor.com they used to have bullitens on there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted September 26, 2007 Author Share Posted September 26, 2007 Thanx for the link. I went to the Meritor web site and they have available information and some bulletins. But of course, nothing that was going to help me. But, my extension for the breather almost fixed it. I am going to extend it from 2" to 3" and try it again. Got it down to a single drip so I am headed in the right direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Clayton Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 Reminds me of the front difs on Explorers where they revised the cover with a baffle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanik Posted November 13, 2007 Share Posted November 13, 2007 Reminds me of the front difs on Explorers where they revised the cover with a baffle. Thats kind of what I was thinking. I have never worked on a truck that big and maybe this is a silly question, but is it possible there is supposed to be a baffle near the vent to prevent this from happening? Is there something spinning that is helping the fluid splash around more than normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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