Correct Gear Oil Quantity for Drop Axles

[RBW]

While chasing hub leaks, I have continued to wonder about the correct gear oil quantity for the drop axle housings. The Lubrication Order says "12 oz each side," which doesn't make any sense at all. When filing a dry drop axle housing through the horizontal 1/2" pipe plug, I find it takes 2.5 - 3 oz, so maybe 12 oz total for all four drop housings.

Aside from that, 6 oz for the front axle and 2 qt for the transmission seems to make sense. If I put any more oil in the drop axles, it seems to weep from the inboard dust boot seal.

[Chuck W.]

the 12 oz is suspect. I just fill it until oil starts running back out of the hole, does not take much, you are right, just a couple of ozs. If you are installing new boots, you will need to check the oil level often since the oil will migrate into the boots.

If I put any more oil in the drop axles, it seems to weep from the inboard dust boot seal.

The inner retainer wire for the boot may be loose or broken. It's hard to get a completely "dry" mule, I've tried!
In my opinion, if it's not leaking, you better check and make sure it's not empty

[GUNNUT in Iowa]

the 12 oz is suspect. I just fill it until oil starts running back out of the hole, does not take much, you are right, just a couple of ozs. If you are installing new boots, you will need to check the oil level often since the oil will migrate into the boots.

If I put any more oil in the drop axles, it seems to weep from the inboard dust boot seal.

The inner retainer wire for the boot may be loose or broken. It's hard to get a completely "dry" mule, I've tried!
In my opinion, if it's not leaking, you better check and make sure it's not empty

" . . . if it's not leaking, you better check and make sure it's not empty."

Doesn't that apply to Harley Davidson motorcycles as well?

[RBW]

Getting the dust boots to seal just right seems to be a challenge. I've tried the non-hardening Permatex around the recess in the drop axle housing. Hard to get the safety wire to line up just right to clamp in the right places. Also, I had ancient leather hub seals which clearly were sealing nothing anymore, so replacing with rubber lip seals seems to have helped a bit.

[Mike_W]

I always had problems with keeping the wire lined up while also twisting the wire with regular pliers when replacing boots. I since started using safety wire pliers and it's much easier. Use one hand to keep the wire in place and the other to just pull straight up on the pliers and let them do the twisting. It's important to get the right amount of twist. If you can turn the boot then it's too loose. Tighten the wire just until the boot won't turn and stop tightening. Don't over tighten or the wire will cut the boot. This process has been working well to stop leaks from around the bottom of the boot.

[Chuck W.]

The best wire I ever found for this was some telephone lacing wire that my friend, Rod, had. I wish I had another roll of it!