Hello again. Oily Mike here. This time please take a look at the picture in this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53746610@N08/4962618944/

This is the left front half shaft. Notice near the boot the oil staining. It is not present on the passenger side. Any ideas? Need to worry? No clicking or other strange noises. The CV joints seem tight. The boot is not torn anywhere where I can see it.

Thanks for your expertise...

Mike

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Joined the CRD family in July '10. Found a near mint '06 limited, Inferno Red. All stock except lift pump and GDE ECO-Full Torque. Lovin it!

The grease could be leaking out under the band. Is there any evidence of a cut or break in the boot near the band? Could it have dripped down there from say a leaking turbo hose or the flow control valve lip (if the hose is not fitted correctly).

I am doing an oil change today. I will take a look.

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Joined the CRD family in July '10. Found a near mint '06 limited, Inferno Red. All stock except lift pump and GDE ECO-Full Torque. Lovin it!

Check the vent on your front diff at the end of the small hose, I have seen many still good seals leak from too much case pressure and then quit after the vent is opened up properly.

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2006 Pearl Green CRD
Magnaflow 2 1/2" Cat Back
KJ Extra Leg Room Brackets, Carter Lift Pump, V6 Airbox, ORM
Fuel cooler, Oil Separator, Progard 7
Gauges EGT Boost Trans Temp Oil Pres, Michelin LXT AT2 245 70 R16
7,000# Draw Tight hitch, PML EX Deep Trans Pan
Centrifuge, SunCoast, Transgo, RAM TCM, InMotion Stage 2
Wife's 99 TDI VW Beetle

The boot seems fine, no cracks, band is on tight. There are no signs of oil from above. I do think it is the seal leaking. There is a small gap that you can actually see the seal. It appears to be malformed, slightly bulging in one spot. How hard is this to replace? I like the vent idea. Which side is it on?

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Joined the CRD family in July '10. Found a near mint '06 limited, Inferno Red. All stock except lift pump and GDE ECO-Full Torque. Lovin it!

Vent is at the end of a 1/4" or 5/16" hose that attaches to the top of the differential access cover. The purpose of the hose is to keep the water out of the differential when you go into water like crossing a stream. You will need to follow the hose to see where the tuck away the vent.
If the KJFSM is correct, the inner CVs are held in with round spring type snap rings and should pop out. Replacing the seal is a standard procedure of extracting the old one and putting in the new one, only they show their magic tools that only the Jeep dealers or well equipped shops have. The rest of us make do with what we make, borrow, or improvise.

Good luck

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2006 Pearl Green CRD
Magnaflow 2 1/2" Cat Back
KJ Extra Leg Room Brackets, Carter Lift Pump, V6 Airbox, ORM
Fuel cooler, Oil Separator, Progard 7
Gauges EGT Boost Trans Temp Oil Pres, Michelin LXT AT2 245 70 R16
7,000# Draw Tight hitch, PML EX Deep Trans Pan
Centrifuge, SunCoast, Transgo, RAM TCM, InMotion Stage 2
Wife's 99 TDI VW Beetle