Is my new Steering Stabilizer leaking?

[DavidArmen]

2021 JLUR

I replaced my stabilizer in early June 2024 and have not had more than a hundred miles of driving since.
This morning I notice some substance similar to greasy black dirt at the very edge of the cylinder.

The stabilizer is FOX 2.0 Through Shaft and I purchased it from ExtremeTerrain.

I also thought it might be some type of road dirt but if that was the case, it wouldn’t be just at the edge where the black cover threads into the cylinder. The rest of the stabilizer is completely clean.

I haven’t even gone off-roading since the install, only pavement driving.

What do you guys think? Probably a warranty claim?

It’s mostly in the front and a bit at the bottom.

This clean area circled in white is when I wiped some off with my finger and it came right off.

This is the top area; looks completely clean.

And this is the bottom.

Most of the substance is in the frontal section, facing the front of the Jeep.

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[Johnny B]

Piston and seal area don't appear to be spewing any fluid. It looks more like you picked up some debris that splattered on the front side of your stabilizer. But, to be safe, keep an eye on it. Doubt you'd pick up similar debris in the same spot twice. Good eye, shows you take real good care of your Jeep...

 

[DavidArmen]

Piston and seal area don't appear to be spewing any fluid. It looks more like you picked up some debris that splattered on the front side of your stabilizer. But, to be safe, keep an eye on it. Doubt you'd pick up similar debris in the same spot twice. Good eye, shows you take real good care of your Jeep...

Yes I noticed that the piston seal itself looks normal and dry. However, doesn’t that black end-cap thread into the aluminum cylinder? Though I’m unsure how likely a leak from that spot is, even if it’s a possibility at all.

It’s still well within warranty so I think I’m going to clean it up and keep an eye on it as you suggested.

Thanks! I often take a peek under the Jeep to make sure everything is as it should be!

 

[CO2Wrangler]

2021 JLUR

I replaced my stabilizer in early June 2024 and have not had more than a hundred miles of driving since.
This morning I notice some substance similar to greasy black dirt at the very edge of the cylinder.

The stabilizer is FOX 2.0 Through Shaft and I purchased it from ExtremeTerrain.

I also thought it might be some type of road dirt but if that was the case, it wouldn’t be just at the edge where the black cover threads into the cylinder. The rest of the stabilizer is completely clean.

I haven’t even gone off-roading since the install, only pavement driving.

What do you guys think? Probably a warranty claim?

It’s mostly in the front and a bit at the bottom.

This clean area circled in white is when I wiped some off with my finger and it came right off.

This is the top area; looks completely clean.

And this is the bottom.

Most of the substance is in the frontal section, facing the front of the Jeep.

Of my 4 Fox shocks, I had one start leaking within 10k miles. Less than a year of mostly on-road driving.

Hoping the warranty process is smooth and the quality of the remaining is better.

Wipe yours clean. If it comes back it's likely leaking fluid and collecting road grime in it.

 

[DarkAardvark]

Maybe it's the dirt being deceptive, but is it cracked and scuffed? The one piece is black all the way around, but silver there. And the silver tube has a black line that looks like a crack. Did you hit something? What does it look like if you wipe away all of the grime?

 

[DavidArmen]

Of my 4 Fox shocks, I had one start leaking within 10k miles. Less than a year of mostly on-road driving.

Hoping the warranty process is smooth and the quality of the remaining is better.

Wipe yours clean. If it comes back it's likely leaking fluid and collecting road grime in it.

I have had a similar experience with FOX shocks. I installed the Dynatrac EnduroSport 2” lift soon after getting my Jeep. The kit included FOX 2.0 IFP shocks. Purchased online from River City Offroad.

A couple of months and a few hundred miles later, I was out crawling and flexing my suspension to check for clearances and I noticed the front passenger shock was leaking at the shaft seal. I cleaned it up and saw it had leaked again less than an hour later. It’s entirely possible it was defective from the beginning.

Fortunately, I had a great experience with River City Offroad support. I emailed them with photos and my proof of purchase and because the one-year warranty had not yet passed, they acted as an intermediary with Dynatrac and had Dynatrac send me a brand new shock and asked me to return the old one, for which they included a free return shipping label. It was a bummer to see it leaking so soon and after so few miles but the replacement was a positive experience.

The leaking front passsenger shock:

 

[DavidArmen]

Maybe it's the dirt being deceptive, but is it cracked and scuffed? The one piece is black all the way around, but silver there. And the silver tube has a black line that looks like a crack. Did you hit something? What does it look like if you wipe away all of the grime?

I believe that white section on the black cap is just a reflection. I had not noticed that sideways T shaped line but I don’t think I hit it on anything.
I will post photos from multiple angles after I completely wipe it down.

 

[DavidArmen]

Here are some photos after a good wipe down:

All the white sections on the black end cap are reflections as they aren’t there when viewed with the naked eye. Fortunately, the T-shaped defect is also not present in the metal.
I’ll keep checking it to see if anything changes.

 

[jadmt]

it is just the assembly lube used when assembling the cap...

 

[CO2Wrangler]

I have had a similar experience with FOX shocks. I installed the Dynatrac EnduroSport 2” lift soon after getting my Jeep. The kit included FOX 2.0 IFP shocks. Purchased online from River City Offroad.

A couple of months and a few hundred miles later, I was out crawling and flexing my suspension to check for clearances and I noticed the front passenger shock was leaking at the shaft seal. I cleaned it up and saw it had leaked again less than an hour later. It’s entirely possible it was defective from the beginning.

Fortunately, I had a great experience with River City Offroad support. I emailed them with photos and my proof of purchase and because the one-year warranty had not yet passed, they acted as an intermediary with Dynatrac and had Dynatrac send me a brand new shock and asked me to return the old one, for which they included a free return shipping label. It was a bummer to see it leaking so soon and after so few miles but the replacement was a positive experience.

The leaking front passsenger shock:

Looks like the same model as mine that leaked! Glad you had a better experience. Clayton told me it was between me and Fox after 30 days...

 

[Johnny B]

Yes I noticed that the piston seal itself looks normal and dry. However, doesn’t that black end-cap thread into the aluminum cylinder? Though I’m unsure how likely a leak from that spot is, even if it’s a possibility at all.

It’s still well within warranty so I think I’m going to clean it up and keep an eye on it as you suggested.

Thanks! I often take a peek under the Jeep to make sure everything is as it should be!

Yes, the end does indeed thread in. But if it leaked out hydraulic fluid, I don't think it would look like dried out tar. You cleaned it up, you can be a little excessive on turning the wheel back and forth, and give it another look over. I still think it's debris from the roads you were driving on. But I am no expert, just another Jeep owner...

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