CV axle - Sign of leak and likely eventual failure

[Ford Motor Company]

Mine definitely had more than a bit of seepage. Little BB sized pellets of grease flung out and got on the frame that made it look like sloppy welding spots. Not a lot but just enough to go unnoticed. Cleaned everything with brake cleaner which is why part of the frame and half the axle looks "wet". Hopefully it holds up . Thanks for the idea!

Hi Richard! I can look into your maverick's concern on my end. To get started, could you please send a private message over with the name/location of your local Ford dealer and your maverick's VIN?

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[skadizzle]

Do we or Ford know what is causing this CV axle issue? Is it a bad batch of them that went out? More importantly, is Ford putting replacing them with upgraded ones or are they just as likely to fail again? My truck is in the shop waiting for them now and am at 33k miles. I'm just concerned that they will go bad again in another 10-20k miles once its out of warranty.

 

[billpitman]

Good idea using black rtv where it leaks at. I just did mine right now with blue rtv and hope it stops the small leak of axle grease.

Passenger side?! Bill P

 

[FunctionSpec]

Passenger side?! Bill P

Yes, passenger side.

 

[Fibrepunk]

Almost a year later:

2023 XLT Hybrid
- 145xx miles
- Passenger side showing it leaked a little more comparing to when it had 6300 miles, see image.
- No shake/vibration under acceleration yet

 

[skinnyboy]

Almost a year later:

2023 XLT Hybrid
- 145xx miles
- Passenger side showing it leaked a little more comparing to when it had 6300 miles, see image.
- No shake/vibration under acceleration yet

That looks pretty minor. My '22 shed lots of grease all over the place from new. Gobs on the frame. Just kept waiting for it to fail, but it didn't. Had it changed out as it is getting close to the end of the powertrain warranty.

Cheers.

 

[HeyBales]

Almost a year later:

2023 XLT Hybrid
- 145xx miles
- Passenger side showing it leaked a little more comparing to when it had 6300 miles, see image.
- No shake/vibration under acceleration yet

Yours is good example of the inner side having the leak 1st.

So many pics show the outer side only with a leak, where water could flow down thru poorly sealed clamp area, thin grease out, which makes it's way back out.

I guess one of the traditional methods of an issue don't really apply, per some posts earlier.
Really just squeezing the grease out.

I wish I'd noticed that recommendation of earlier post to get some good "before" photos to keep comparing. Got the outers, but failed to get inners during oil changes.

 

[Cherokee]

I’ve had several CV axles weep like that over the years on various vehicles. Been up beyond 200,000 miles on CV axles that did that.
Never had a problem.
I’ve had valve covers and oil pan gasket weep, seep just enough to make me keep an eye on it.
After years and miles I quit looking at it.
Just another reason that I have an extended
Warranty.
Op, point it out to your dealer on your next service. Make them document the thing in writing, keep a dated copy and Fagetaboutit.

 

[Automan21]

I'm

I'm no mechanic but wondering if any preventative maintenance can be done to avoid this issue? Any thoughts here would be appreciated

After reading a few threads on this when I first got my Mav I used black RTV sealant where the boot meets the shaft by the clamp and made sure it was all around it. Not globs of it but enough of a good bead to seal in the grease in that boot should it ever shift or become loose. Haven’t had issues since and no grease leaks. Almost at 30k miles now.

 

[Fibrepunk]

Yours is good example of the inner side having the leak 1st.

So many pics show the outer side only with a leak, where water could flow down thru poorly sealed clamp area, thin grease out, which makes it's way back out.

I guess one of the traditional methods of an issue don't really apply, per some posts earlier.
Really just squeezing the grease out.

I wish I'd noticed that recommendation of earlier post to get some good "before" photos to keep comparing. Got the outers, but failed to get inners during oil changes.

From all the failed CV axles I have heard, each time I do an oil change, I would take pictures of the axles. And I guess I will update my post on here too, we will see how much more it leaks each time I do an oil change.

 

[Fibrepunk]

I’ve had several CV axles weep like that over the years on various vehicles. Been up beyond 200,000 miles on CV axles that did that.
Never had a problem.
I’ve had valve covers and oil pan gasket weep, seep just enough to make me keep an eye on it.
After years and miles I quit looking at it.
Just another reason that I have an extended
Warranty.
Op, point it out to your dealer on your next service. Make them document the thing in writing, keep a dated copy and Fagetaboutit.

Yes, I will as i do have to get my Maverick in for the backup camera recall soon.

 

[wb5oxq]

Is this mostly a hybrid issue? What about AWD EB models?

 

[colinl]

Is this mostly a hybrid issue? What about AWD EB models?

that's a question that has a very long answer so you can search threads on MTC if you want more
details, but I'll summarize:

1. lifting a truck does increase the angularity of the CV joints. lowering decreases it, but some lowered vehicles have had CV joint failures and there are some lifted trucks with a lot of miles with no failures.
2. 22-24 hybrid front cv have had the highest failure rate, even compared to lifted ecoboost.
3. 25 hybrid front cv have a new part number but I have not seen anyone show pics comparing the 22-24 and the 25+, especially not with the boot off and looking at the joint itself.
4. 22-24 ecoboost have some failures but you can use a tremor front axle which is fully compatible, thicker axle, and far superior joint design. dealerships will not replace std with tremor under warranty, you will have to pay for this upgrade yourself.
5. rear cvs are mostly reliable. there are very few standard awd rear cv joint failures reported, and I've personally seen only one person with a tremor or lobo report a rear cv failure.

 

[dhigby]

Looks like Ford has upgraded the axels for the hybrid now. The original part numbers: NZ6Z-3B436-C and NZ6Z-3B436-E have been upgraded to: SZ6Z-3B436-C and SZ6Z-3B436-E

https://ford.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/ford-shaft-front-axle-sz6z3b436c

When I go in, I will double check to make sure the replacements are the newer S prefix.

 

[icegradner]

Looks like Ford has upgraded the axels for the hybrid now. The original part numbers: NZ6Z-3B436-C and NZ6Z-3B436-E have been upgraded to: SZ6Z-3B436-C and SZ6Z-3B436-E

https://ford.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/ford-shaft-front-axle-sz6z3b436c

When I go in, I will double check to make sure the replacements are the newer S prefix.

Yes, these new parts came out late last fall. I had the passenger side one done a few weeks ago and got the new part. The old part doesn't even show in the dealership parts catalogue anymore, at least at my dealership.

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