Did you know that all of the components within an axle housing share the same fluid? This means your axle shafts and your differential are lubricated by the same gear oil! If you notice fluid leaking from your differential plate or axle seals, be sure to get it checked right away for your entire axle housing could be at risk!
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Lubrication failure is one of the primary causes of axle failure and damage. Fortunately, lubrication failure can be prevented by understanding the signs and symptoms of lubrication failure and why it happens in the first place.
Like most components that use some sort of lubricant, your axle housing needs to have its gear oil changed once every 30 to 60 thousand miles. Over time, gear oil will break down and fail to properly lubricate your gears. This means friction and heat will increase if the fluid isn’t replaced. Friction and heat can cause a lot of damage. Axle shafts can warp or snap, differentials can get bound up, and seals may blow. Keeping up with your gear oil changes can prevent these symptoms from sidelining your truck.
Since your entire axle housing uses the same gear oil, repairing leaks is of the utmost importance. Even a small leak from your axle seal can have significant impacts on the rest of your components. If the gear oil level falls, friction and heat will increase, and the risk of significant damage skyrockets. Common places to check for oil leaks include your differential plate, axle seals, and drain plugs.
If debris somehow enters your axle housing, the risk of catastrophic failure significantly increases. When changing your gear oil, make sure rust, sand, and other debris donʻt enter your fill cap. Even the smallest amount of debris can really do a number on your axle shafts and differential. Either they’ll get caught up in the gearing and bind everything up, or cause your lubricant to fail.
Want to get your heavy-duty axles serviced? Give Impulse Repairs a call today!
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