Grinding noise and fluid leaking on front passenger tire

TERRI MONTGOMERY

MEMBER
1999 DODGE DURANGO
5.9L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
175,000 MILES

My fiance put my vehicle (listed above) in 4 wheel drive and couldn't get it to come out afterwards. He drove it about 5 miles on dry pavement in 4 wheel drive when he got home there was a fluid leaking on the passenger side fender wall. It made a popping noise immediately after driving it for 2 days like that it stopped popping but is now grinding and still leaking whatever the fluid is on the front passenger side tire. What is the problem and what can I do to fix it?

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Where is the fluid leaking from the tire? This sounds like either a differential seal or an axle. So can you get a couple pictures of the leak so that we can get a better idea and even a video of the noise?

I suspect this is a CV axle issue as that is what make the most sense based on what you are seeing. So here are a couple guides that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-cv-axle

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-cv-axle-bearing

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/vehicle-grinding-noise

Please run through this material see the info below on how to replace the axle as this will help with orienting where this noise is coming from.

Basically if it is stuck in 4WD I suspect driving on dry pavement and turn put too much torque on the axles and it broke one of them.

Let us know about this info and we can go from there.

Thanks

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