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02-09-2018, 09:04 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Alaska in Summer Snow Birds in Winter
Posts: 2,073
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Dana 135 Rear Axle Outer Gasket Leak
Just a heads up for anyone who might run into this issue.
When we bought the Adventurer last spring I noticed a bit of gear oil accumulating on the wheels. I tracked it down to the outer axle flange gasket. Ordered up the gasket and planned to fix it when we got back to the coach this January.
Fast forward to January. It was well below zero when we got back to the coach. I made a half a$$ attempt the get the axle out but wasn’t in the mood to fight this and wanted to head to warmer weather immediately. I checked the level of fluid and is was within a half inch of the fill hole. I went to NAPA and grabbed a couple quarts of gear lube just in case then we headed west.
Between Indianapolis and Phoenix I checked the level a couple of times and the level barely dropped but the leak was still there. It was making a good mess on the wheel and even some getting on the wheel well.
Once in phoenix I made an appt at a local rv repair shop. They got me right in on appt day and went right to work on it. Several good licks with a big hammer and the conical washers released and the axle came right out. Sure enough the gasket was torn in a couple of spots. I handed the tech the new gasket and a tube of Right Stuff gasket sealer. He smeared the gasket with sealer and then placed the gasket over the axle shaft onto the flange. I stopped him briefly and asked if he thought it would be better to slide the paper gasket onto the studs of the hub. He replied that he always does it this way so I just stepped back and let him do his job.
As he was realigning the axle splines and studs it was apparent that the gasket was hanging up on the threads of the studs. The tech asked me to go i to the coach and put it in neutral. I did. As i look out the mirror i see him grab his big dead blow and whack the axle about 4 times. The axle was back in place.
He buttoned things up and i went in and paid the bill. I crawled under and confirmed the fluid level was still adequate. We got back under way and headed to Quartzsite where we planned to stay for a couple of days
Upon arrival at Quartzsite you can imagine my disappointment when the oil leak was much much worse there was a huge puddle of oil in the wheel and oil all over the inner wheel well. It looked like it was coming from the gasket but i wondered if i had a cracked hub or something. My buddy Nos and I looked it over closely and sure enough the new gasket was leaking
I topped off the fluid level and we headed to Palm Springs. In Palm Springs I found the Felpro gasket at the corner Orileys. I swapped out the gasket myself this time. I took care to clean everything spotless and slide the gasket over the studs like it should have been done. The axle slipped right back into place and i buttoned up everything.
That was about 1 week and 1000 miles ago and we are now completely leak free on the rear axle gasket.
Long story but maybe it will help someone in the future.
__________________
Tom and Sherry W.
06 Winnebago Adventurer 38J Workhorse W24 Lots of motor and suspension mods in the works
02 Itasca Suncruiser 35U. Workhorse W22 w/Safe-T-Plus, Koni FSDs, UltraTrac, etc, etc.
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02-09-2018, 03:48 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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Those paper axle seals don't look like much, but they can do a very good job if not damaged. Glad you got it fixed correctly. I had a brake job done on my RV and one of the seals failed, I also drove monitoring the diff level until I could get home. My mechanic repaired it at no cost and it's been good for a couple of years now.
I hope you notified the shop manager or owner of what you witnessed and the mechanic has learned from his errors. A bigger hammer is not always the solution!
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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02-09-2018, 04:17 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,349
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I have knocked on some big axles, with big sledges to get them out, but never used a hammer to install them. What a knuckle head you had.
And of course you slide the gasket over the studs, its paper. He had probably only done the ones with bolts holding the axle in.
At least he didn't hit a stud or two. Been there done that !
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02-09-2018, 05:16 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Kitts Hill, OH
Posts: 2,252
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
I have knocked on some big axles, with big sledges to get them out, but never used a hammer to install them. What a knuckle head you had.
And of course you slide the gasket over the studs, its paper. He had probably only done the ones with bolts holding the axle in.
At least he didn't hit a stud or two. Been there done that !
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X2 on that. And to the OP This is EXACTLY why I do ALL my own work.
I find it cheaper just buy the tools and do it yourself.
__________________
(RVM#26) THE U-RV 94 F-700/24 foot U-haul box home built RV
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02-09-2018, 07:23 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Alaska in Summer Snow Birds in Winter
Posts: 2,073
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Thanks guys. Everything posted above is 100% true. I did call the service manager and discussed my experience. He was appreciative for the call and offered to refund my money. I declined and i did say i would be back. They are a very good shop with a good rep. They also had a good attitude when i called.
Im pretty handy with tools. I have the old Bego outfitted pretty good. It will have to be something serious before i just drop it off at a shop.
Thanks for all the replies.
__________________
Tom and Sherry W.
06 Winnebago Adventurer 38J Workhorse W24 Lots of motor and suspension mods in the works
02 Itasca Suncruiser 35U. Workhorse W22 w/Safe-T-Plus, Koni FSDs, UltraTrac, etc, etc.
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02-10-2018, 07:57 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,770
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Your experience is why I try to do most of the work myself. I do have one place that I trust, but once on the road finding a good service center for an issue is a concern.
We have one local RV dealer who used to sell the coach I have (W24 Newmar). I approached them for service on the brakes (bleed the system) and they didn't even realize I had two bleeds and argued with me for 20 minutes that I was wrong. Finally one tech said, "Oh, you have the big chassis" after which they said they don't work on those. And this is a listed Workhorse service center. Just plain scary
__________________
2015 Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH
2018 Chevrolet Colorado Toad
Roadmaster Tow Setup
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02-11-2018, 08:17 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: faison n.c.
Posts: 234
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Exactly why no one touches mine but me. All it takes is one knuckle head to ruin your day! Glad you got it taken care of![emoji106]
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02-11-2018, 09:15 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Alaska in Summer Snow Birds in Winter
Posts: 2,073
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One challenge to performing all your own work is where to work on your rig. We spend the winter months in our Adventurer. Sometimes we are boondocking and sometimes we are in an RV Park. Most RV Parks dont let you do any maintenance while in the park. I have to carry every tool with me. None of these are excuses just challenges we must face while living in the coach full time.
__________________
Tom and Sherry W.
06 Winnebago Adventurer 38J Workhorse W24 Lots of motor and suspension mods in the works
02 Itasca Suncruiser 35U. Workhorse W22 w/Safe-T-Plus, Koni FSDs, UltraTrac, etc, etc.
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02-11-2018, 09:29 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,321
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We stopped using gaskets and went to rtv silicon sealer on axel flanges years ago on the trucks. Works great.
Happy with the W24 chassis?
Happy Glamping.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
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02-11-2018, 09:30 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: faison n.c.
Posts: 234
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Since mine stays in an enclosed shop and i have all the tools in the world it does make it a whole lot easier. I can see where there would be some major challenges trying to do repairs on the road! Especially when your trying to be careful not to exceed weight limits, it doesn’t leave much room for a whole lot of tools.
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02-11-2018, 10:34 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Alaska in Summer Snow Birds in Winter
Posts: 2,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unplanned
We stopped using gaskets and went to rtv silicon sealer on axel flanges years ago on the trucks. Works great.
Happy with the W24 chassis?
Happy Glamping.
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I do love the W24 chassis for sure. And we especially love the 38j floorplan. Still one of the best gassers ever offered IMO.
__________________
Tom and Sherry W.
06 Winnebago Adventurer 38J Workhorse W24 Lots of motor and suspension mods in the works
02 Itasca Suncruiser 35U. Workhorse W22 w/Safe-T-Plus, Koni FSDs, UltraTrac, etc, etc.
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02-11-2018, 10:46 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,321
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AKIQPilot
I do love the W24 chassis for sure. And we especially love the 38j floorplan. Still one of the best gassers ever offered IMO.
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__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
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