# Truck Q: drive shaft seal **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truck-q-drive-shaft-seal/308223 "2005-06-14T15:17:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anvil\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cab0a1/32.png) [@Anvil\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anvil_Soup)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truck-q-drive-shaft-seal/308223/1 "2005-06-14T15:17:00Z")
My wife is looking at used trucks, and has found one online that she is interested in. The dealership is a bit far away, so before we head on out there, we’re trying to learn as much in advance as possible. Along with photos, the dealer has provided a written list of defects, all of which are cosmetic. Except, perhaps, for this: [ul] [li]_There is some minor seepage from the front right axle drive shaft seal._[/li][/ul] Obviously, we’ll be taking any prospective purchase to a local mechanic for a full inspection, but I’d like to understand this a bit more before it even gets to that. Is this a potentially serious issue? If so, how serious (in time/money)? If not, why wouldn’t the dealer just go ahead and repair it now? Does it matter how “minor” the seepage really is? If it matters, the truck is a 2001 Tahoe, with ~58k miles. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truck-q-drive-shaft-seal/308223/2 "2005-06-14T15:49:35Z")
I assume the vehicle is 4WD. I would try to get the dealer to replace the seal. As a last resort, the very last, if it’s otherwise in good shape and I wanted that particular vehicle I’d tell the dealer to fix it and add the cost to the purchase parice. That way, your payments over 36 months go up a little and you are spared what will be a constant annoyance, at least, because the seepage isn’t going to get better. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truck-q-drive-shaft-seal/308223/3 "2005-06-14T16:45:00Z")
It’s really not that big of a deal, which really makes me wonder why the dealer didn’t just replace the seal instead of listing it as a defect. I suspect that the dealer knows something else is amiss and is covering their butt legally by letting you know the seal leaks.