Hi guy's this is a pic of my front shaft could you help on decifering where the wetness is from???? it looks like it's coming from the shaft itself if you notice the starter is a little moist but actualy looking at it, it seems to be from kick up is has anyone come across this ??? or could help me out a little

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PETE
ADMINISTRATOR
L.O.S.T. 4 LIFE
04 COLUMBIA ED. & 04 SPORT

It looks like it's wet above the shaft by the block and starter,so it leads me to believe it's coming from the engine somewhere.Have you felt the fliud? Is it coolant/oil/ATF or gear oil? If it's gear oil then from the pic your pinion seal(rubber o-ring between the pinion nut and flange) is leaking,not the diff input seal the one inside the yoke itself.If it's not gear oli it's coming from the engine somewhere in the driver's side.Is it water? Maybe you got some snow packed in there and it got into the starter making it act funny.Just some thoughts,hope this helps.

I just noticed it today & can say it's not snow for fact ( none here) it's hard to tell exactly what type of oil it is when I rubbed my finger on it it was just black heavy stuff nothing realy fresh, there doesn't seem to be anything leaking from the back of the engine,there's nothing on that side to leak anyway from what I can tell with the hood open & it's been dry but cold here for 3 days which tells me it's a leak

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PETE
ADMINISTRATOR
L.O.S.T. 4 LIFE
04 COLUMBIA ED. & 04 SPORT

Does it smell like gear oil? You can't miss the gear oil smell. Might need to remove the 6 bolts that hold the front CV joint to the yoke and check to see if it's wet inside of there,if it is then the rubber o-ring behind the pinion nut is the source of the leak.

I'll check for smell, might have the dealer look at it because it's way to cold out & I'm no mechanic by all means

just wanted some input on what it might be from the guy's who realy know about this stuff like yourself

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PETE
ADMINISTRATOR
L.O.S.T. 4 LIFE
04 COLUMBIA ED. & 04 SPORT

I would not worry about it
Dana diff's for some reason seem to get "wet" my TJ looks wet front and rear the KJ front looks wet
my brothers YJ looks wet
jeep/chrysler is not known for there "quality" sealing method's

The way I see it if it does not make a spot on the driveway then it is nothing to worry about
check the fluids if they are full then nothing to cause concern
if you find it is grease then maybe I would look at the CV boot but thats about all that would cause concern

just my .02

well my wifes is dry as a bone so there must be a problem somewhere & there both 04's

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PETE
ADMINISTRATOR
L.O.S.T. 4 LIFE
04 COLUMBIA ED. & 04 SPORT

Unbolt all those bolts holding it togeher and look inside. I suspect the o-ring like tjkj mentioned. I also tend to go w/ the "if it does not make a spot on the driveway then it is nothing to worry about check the fluids if they are full then nothing to cause concern" thought being that is Is a Jeep. If it isn't the o-ring, I would suspect the engine leaking somewhere and migrating to that area. I will go take a look at mine and see if anything else jumps out at me to mention.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

no spot in the driveway BUT I have my skid on also & under that area it is dry on the skid, would you know if it went bad meaning noises ,vibration etc. & would that be the front diff fluid I'd check ? or t-case or both

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PETE
ADMINISTRATOR
L.O.S.T. 4 LIFE
04 COLUMBIA ED. & 04 SPORT

Front diff would be what I would check first but chances are it won't be down much if at all unless it was dripping out or you saw a lot of oil on the undercarriage. i looked at mine and i don't see anywhere else it could really come from.

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99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

I've seen that on WG's with CV joints as well, nothing major to worry about. Its just the CV grease weeping out under the centrifugal force of the joint spinning.

Maybe take a spanner to those nuts/bolts holding together, tighten, degrease and see how it goes.

nothing major.

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Custom, Comfortable & Capable.......just the way it should be

This is not the first time I would think this is a pinion seal leak - it happened with mine and by the looks, exactly the same.
Dealer fixed it under warranty...

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ok thanks guy's I saw wetness & got nervous it may be warmer tomorrow ( 35) so I'll check fluid levels to see

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PETE
ADMINISTRATOR
L.O.S.T. 4 LIFE
04 COLUMBIA ED. & 04 SPORT