Honda, Subaru, Toyota & Lexus Axle Seals Front

Regarding front-wheel-drive cars, the axles plug into the final drive portion of the transaxle assembly. Therefore, if these seals are leaking, then the final drive portion loses its fluid. For instances on many automatic transmission front-wheel-drive cars, the final drive has a separate fluid compartment from the transmission portion of the transaxle.

When this is the case, you can’t check the fluid level of the final drive except by means of raising the car on the hoist and pulling a drain plug. For some, the final drive and the transmission share the same fluid. You can check the fluid level with the dipstick.

For manual transmissions the fluid compartments are shared. You’ll have to raise it up and pull the fill plug to check it. If you know you have a leak of any consequence, It’s a good idea to simply repair it so that you don’t run low on fluid between checks. For older trucks and Land Cruisers with solid front axle housings, the inner axle seal is intended to keep the gear oil in the differential. When the seal leaks, it allows the gear oil to flow past it and into the steering knuckle area and on out into the wheel bearings.

The earliest indication is usually that steering knuckle starts leaking some goopy grease as the gear oil dilutes the grease in the steering knuckle and the wiper seal is no longer able to contain the grease in its area. If left unattended, the oil continues to flood and dilute the grease in the wheel bearings, and eventually leaks past the wheel bearing seals and fouls the front brake pads and rotors.

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