Axle shaft seal replacement cost ranges from $258 to $314. The part itself is not very expensive, and it usually costs about $46. However, the labor cost is a little high, and it can take up to $268.
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Your vehicle's axle Sheffield is responsible for ensuring no fluid leaking from the differential to the surrounding components. The differential must have a certain level of lubrication all the time. Otherwise, your transmission might not work properly, and you might end up with a completely damaged transmission.
This article provides all details you need to know about axle shaft seal replacement costs. We also provide you with a step by step guidance on how to replace it by yourself to save on labor costs.
What is the axle shaft seal, and what does it do?
Your vehicle's front axle shaft seal is in the differential. It is responsible for making sure that there is no fluid leaking out of the differential to the surrounding components.
The differential itself is responsible for transforming the power that the transmission generates and bring it to the wheels so your vehicle can move.
This differential must be lubricated all the time. Without sufficient sealing, the lubrication fluid might leak out and cause some damage is not only to the surrounding components but also to other components in your vehicle.
Over time of use, the axle shaft seals might get damaged due to tear and wear. Whenever this seal gets damaged, you must get your vehicle inspected and repaired immediately by a professional mechanic to prevent causing significant damages to your vehicle that might end up with replacing the entire transmission.
How much does it cost to replace an axle seal?
Axle shaft seal replacement costs range from $258 to $314. The part's actual price is not very expensive, and it's usually around 46 dollars.
However, labor costs can be slightly expensive because the process takes a lot of time and effort, and it could range from $212 to $268, depending on the location where you get the job done.
It is recommended that you get the job done at a smaller repair shop if you're looking to save on replacing your vehicle's axle seal. Small repair shops don't have the same hourly pay as brand dealerships.
Keep in mind that when you go to a small dealership, you won't find the same level of experience you will find on dealerships. That's why many luxury vehicle drivers prefer to go to dealerships even if it costs them much more money than repair shops. They ensure that they get the advanced level of experience they are looking to prevent any damage to their vehicles.
How bad is an axle seal leak? Is it safe to drive without a leaking axle seal?
It's never recommended to keep driving a vehicle that has major axle seal issues. However, if the issue is minor, you might be able to drive your vehicle for a short trip but not for longer trips.
If the leak is not terrible, if you can keep your transmission fluid to the optimum level, you can still drive your vehicle for a couple of these. However, if the leak is severe and you can't keep the optimum level of transmission fluid in your vehicle, you are most likely scarifying the entire transmission.
How do I know if my axle seals are bad? Symptoms of a bad axle leak
Automobiles usually tell you that something is going wrong before it even does. For example, the axle seal will show some symptoms indicating a problem you need to take immediate action to solve.
Here are some of the common that axle shaft seal symptoms:
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Oil drops
Have you ever seen any liquid drops and art your vehicle after you parked for a long time? Did you check that the liquid is most likely like an oil substance?
Then, there is a high chance that there's a problem with your vehicle's axle shaft seal.
Oil drops and oil puddles in your vehicle's driveway indicate something wrong with the sealing that keeps your transmission fluid from leaking.
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Transmission slipping
Oil leaks do not usually happen when you're parked; You will notice them more as you're driving your vehicle on the highway.
One of the most common signs indicating a problem with your vehicle's axle shaft seal transmission slipping. Your vehicle's transmission requires a certain level of lubrication to keep driving and provide the necessary hydraulic power to move all other components like the valve, the gear, the torque converter, the break, etc.
Without sufficient lubrication and the required amount of transmission fluid, your transmission will keep slipping, and if you don't fix the problem immediately, you can cause major damages to your vehicle's transmission, which might end up with needing a new transmission to hear it
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Popping out axle shaft
In some vehicles, your axle shaft seal is not only responsible for preventing any leaks, but it's also responsible for supporting the axle itself.
Once the seal gets damaged, the axle will not have the necessary support, and therefore, you will notice frequent popping out of the axle from its location.
If your vehicle's axle is not placed in the right location, you need to get it situated properly before driving the car again.
When should axle seals be replaced?
Your vehicle's axle seal is made of sturdy material, which means that it should last at least between 75,000 miles to 100,000 miles. However, there are some situations where you need to replace the axle seal due to any external issue.
Therefore, it is recommended that you keep an eye on any signs of a bad axle shaft seal and replace it immediately, especially if you have noticed severe oil leaks.
Without replacing the axle seal at the right time, you're causing major damage to your vehicle's transmission, which is much more costly than fixing the axle seal itself.
How do you replace an axle seal?
Since most of the repair costs are associated with labor efforts, many people tend to learn how to replace their axle seals to save on labor costs and be only $46 for the part itself.
Before you even attempt to replace your axle seal, it is very important to make sure that you know the process and have a certain level of skill sets to do it. Otherwise, you might introduce some issues to your vehicle's components around the transition and probably the transition itself.
A good way to start is to watch some YouTube videos for your vehicle automaker and see how the process is done. It is not very complicated but, it won't hurt to see it in a video.
Here is a step by step guidance on how to replace your own axle seal:
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Get your vehicle ready and prepare
You need to select a place where there are not many people around so you can work comfortably. So that's a flat area, or you can have your vehicle secured and not move as you're working.
Also, consider having all the necessary toolsets that you might need to replace your vehicle's axle seal. You might need a wrench, a screwdriver, and gloves and probably appear of goggles.
A handy tool would be a seal removal tool. Make sure to select the right new seals and bearings that match your vehicle. To do so, you can always refer to your vehicle's owner's manual or Google your vehicle's exact make, model, and here for more details.
You will also need your vehicle's owner's manual for a variety of steps within this process. Thus, make sure that you have a hard copy from your mechanic or a soft copy from the Internet that you can download.
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Where is your vehicle
If you have not raised your vehicle before, it is very important to make sure that you're very familiar with how the process is done to prevent getting yourself into any risks of injuries.
You can use a hydraulic Jack through your vehicle and secure it in place by using the wheel shocks.
Make sure that your vehicle is set to neutral after securing the wheels.
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Take out the brake drum and the brake rotor
Most of your work should be done under the brake drum or the brake rotor. Thus, the first step would be to take these parts out so you can reach the differential.
To do so, you might need to use a 1/2-inch ratchet and a 3/8-inch ratchet.
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Locate your vehicles axle shaft seal
Your vehicle's axle shaft seals should be located inside the differential, and if you don't know where to find it or are having a hard time finding it, you can always refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for more details.
Once you locate the differential, be prepared to drain some of the transmission fluid and make sure that you don't lose it.
To do so, you need a drain pan, a 1/2-inch torque wrench, and a middle scraper. After removing the mounting bolts from the differential, place the pan underneath it and collect all transmission fluid. Then, take out the differential cover So you can reach the axle seal.
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Remove the old seal
Using a seal removal tool, take out the old seal gently without causing any damages to the differential or the transmission.
After removing the axle seal, it is very important to make sure that you clean the axle tube using a brake cleaner before installing the new one.
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Install the new axle shaft seal
Once you have removed the old seal completely, it is time to install the new one on the right Mount.
A good tip here would be to compare the new axle shaft sealed to the old one and make sure that you selected the right one.
Gently place the new seal inside the Mount and ensure that it went through and got seated properly.
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Install the axles, the differential cover
Once you've completed installing the new axle shaft seal, it is time now to put back all components you took out starting in the backorder.
First, make sure to install the axles, the differential cover, and the brake rotor, and the brake drum.
That's it! You should be good to test drive your vehicle and ensure no fluid is leaking from your vehicle!
The bottom line
Your vehicle's axle shaft seal is responsible for making sure that there's no fluid leaking from the differential to the surrounding components in your transmission.
The differential must have a certain level of fluid to work properly. Otherwise, you might be facing a complete transmission failure.
The axle shaft seal part itself is not very costly, and it's only about 46 dollars. However, labor costs can be very expensive, especially if you decided to go with the dealership.
If you've noticed that it is not worth replacing your vehicle's axle shaft seal because you have other measure damages in the engine or the transmission, it might be time to sell this vehicle and use the payment towards your better new vehicle.
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