Need help! What is this on my D44 front axle ??

[cmc.703]

Hey everyone, I was just crawling up under my 2019 JLUR to check on the frame welds and I noticed this on my front axle. It appears that its leaking oil, although i rubbed my fingers in it and it didn't smell like gear oil. Anyone know what the heck?? If I can avoid going into the dealership that would be great. I do all the maintenance myself. Please let me know if there is a fix for this. Thanks in advance!!

** edit, please feel to chime in but this is most likely my fault. Last oil change I spilled a bit of oil trying to get it in the funnel. I opened the hood and looked down and sure enough the diff is right where I spilled the oil. Regardless, the plug weld on my diff looks half assed... ?? I sprayed brake cleaner and wiped down the pumpkin. Will report later if I see any weeping. Wanted to mention my frame welds look good, not perfect but definitely sloppy in some areas but nowhere as bad as some 2018's I've seen . My build date is 11-18. .

-Chris

Sponsored

 

[MarkY3130]

Appears you’ve answered your own question, but that looks like a plug weld to me as well. Not sure if mine looks any better or not.

 

[cmc.703]

Appears you’ve answered your own question, but that looks like a plug weld to me as well. Not sure if mine looks any better or not.

Would you be willing to crawl up under there and snap a picture for comparison? My picture was taken of the side that faces the rear of the vehicle.

 

[MarkY3130]

Would you be willing to crawl up under there and snap a picture for comparison? My picture was taken of the side that faces the rear of the vehicle.

Sure. I need to install some stuff anyway. Just need to let the snow melt off the Jeep. The garage floor will be a mess but it hasn’t stopped me before.

 

[Shenanigans]

It’s the rosette weld that holds the axle tube into the differential housing. They can leak if the weld wasn’t perfect. Not a huge issue, but I would have the dealer fix it.

 

[cmc.703]

Sure. I need to install some stuff anyway. Just need to let the snow melt off the Jeep. The garage floor will be a mess but it hasn’t stopped me before.

Awesome! No need to rush. I just got back under the Jeep and removed the fill plug and stuck my finger in there. Fluid seems to be at capacity and the fluid looked like it would inside a new bottle. Gear oil has a distinct odor and the oil I was wiping up on the pumpkin had more of an motor oil smell to me. So I'm not leaking from my diff. I am upset that the welds on my D44 are this shoddy. I heard that Dana Corp and the frames for Wranglers are welded in the same factory. Some company named Hyundai Mobis. Anyway, hopefully this post will help someone in the future.

 

[Shenanigans]

Awesome! No need to rush. I just got back under the Jeep and removed the fill plug and stuck my finger in there. Fluid seems to be at capacity and the fluid looked like it would inside a new bottle. Gear oil has a distinct odor and the oil I was wiping up on the pumpkin had more of an motor oil smell to me. So I'm not leaking from my diff. I am upset that the welds on my D44 are this shoddy. I heard that Dana Corp and the frames for Wranglers are welded in the same factory. Some company named Hyundai Mobis. Anyway, hopefully this post will help someone in the future.

it’s an issue with all solid axles, especially in off road applications. That particular weld is under a lot of stress when the axle articulates. A lot of people will also weld the circumference of the wine where it meets the center section of the axle housing. Couple that with a truss and it makes the whole housing much stronger.

 

[cmc.703]

it’s an issue with all solid axles, especially in off road applications. That particular weld is under a lot of stress when the axle articulates. A lot of people will also weld the circumference of the wine where it meets the center section of the axle housing. Couple that with a truss and it makes the whole housing much stronger.

Thanks for the information. What would the dealership do to fix it? If its something I can do like putting JB weld in the gap and painting it black i'll do it. I'm a parts counterman for an Acura dealership. What I've seen over the years at our shop combined with what I'm hearing about how Jeep technicians can't even install a steering stabilizer correctly because they aren't stopping to read the service bulletin, makes me want to avoid the dealership at all costs. Warranty doesn't pay their bills, C.O.D. does.

 

[vavaroutsos]

Awesome! No need to rush. I just got back under the Jeep and removed the fill plug and stuck my finger in there. Fluid seems to be at capacity and the fluid looked like it would inside a new bottle. Gear oil has a distinct odor and the oil I was wiping up on the pumpkin had more of an motor oil smell to me. So I'm not leaking from my diff. I am upset that the welds on my D44 are this shoddy. I heard that Dana Corp and the frames for Wranglers are welded in the same factory. Some company named Hyundai Mobis. Anyway, hopefully this post will help someone in the future.

Mobis welded the JK frames. The JL frames are welded by Tower International (a Chinese company with a location in Pontiac MI). I haven't heard that they are welding the Dana axles.

 

[cmc.703]

Mobis welded the JK frames. The JL frames are welded by Tower International (a Chinese company with a location in Pontiac MI). I haven't heard that they are welding the Dana axles.

Good to know!! The frame welds match that on my D44, shoddy welds and lots of the rusty looking silica.

 

[Shenanigans]

Thanks for the information. What would the dealership do to fix it? If its something I can do like putting JB weld in the gap and painting it black i'll do it. I'm a parts counterman for an Acura dealership. What I've seen over the years at our shop combined with what I'm hearing about how Jeep technicians can't even install a steering stabilizer correctly because they aren't stopping to read the service bulletin, makes me want to avoid the dealership at all costs. Warranty doesn't pay their bills, C.O.D. does.

that would probably get the job done.

 

[four low]

My 2018 is almost a 2019 ; it has a build date of 10/18, your 2019 has a build date of 11/18...I wondered when the model year changed, now I know !

 

[JeepCares]

Hey everyone, I was just crawling up under my 2019 JLUR to check on the frame welds and I noticed this on my front axle. It appears that its leaking oil, although i rubbed my fingers in it and it didn't smell like gear oil. Anyone know what the heck?? If I can avoid going into the dealership that would be great. I do all the maintenance myself. Please let me know if there is a fix for this. Thanks in advance!!

** edit, please feel to chime in but this is most likely my fault. Last oil change I spilled a bit of oil trying to get it in the funnel. I opened the hood and looked down and sure enough the diff is right where I spilled the oil. Regardless, the plug weld on my diff looks half assed... ?? I sprayed brake cleaner and wiped down the pumpkin. Will report later if I see any weeping. Wanted to mention my frame welds look good, not perfect but definitely sloppy in some areas but nowhere as bad as some 2018's I've seen . My build date is 11-18. .

-Chris

Hi cmc.703,
Thanks for sharing your concerns on here, we understand why this would seem troubling! If you do decide to bring this to the attention of your dealer, know that we are happy to assist you via private message.

Kathryn
JeepCares

Sponsored