Axle Lubricant Present at Rear Wheel Hubs (Install New Rear Wheel Bearing Seal)

This bulletin is being revised to add the 2006, 2007 model years, remove left-side only reference, change the seal P/N and add warranty information. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 04-04-20-005 (Section 04 -- Driveline/Axle).

Some customers/dealers may comment on fluid present or a fluid leak around the rear wheel hub area.

The rear axle seal lip may not be wide enough to properly contact the axle spindle in the sealing area. Because of the stack up variation, the old seal may ride on a tapered surface instead of the flat surface and may cause an axle lubricant leak.

Inspect the affected rear wheel hub for evidence of an axle lubricant leak. If diagnosis leads to a lubricant leak at the wheel bearing seal, replace the wheel bearing seal with a new unitized seal, P/N 15887140. No change to the rear axle spindle seal mating surface is required. Refer to the Rear Axle Hub, Bearing, Cup, and/or Seal Replacement procedure in the Rear Drive Axle sub-section of the Service Manual.

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use: