What is an 'axle seal manifold'

[electricquad]

I have a Western 8" straight blade snowplow. There is a truck attached to it. It happens to be a 2004 Ram 2500 SLT - plow works great. The truck... well I knew I was buying a plow with a truck attached to it. Anyway. I had it in to the shop to get a set of tires put on it. When I got it back the shop told me that "Right rear axle seal needs manifolds on both sides". When I got it home I realized the right rear brake appeared to be smoking. I let it sit, then took off the tire, wheel turned freely by hand and the disk didn't really look like it had locked up. So, I presume this was diff fluid leaking out on to the brake and smoking. My reasearch and reading of the Haynes Manual suggests that the problem is the axle seal. However, back to what the shop said "Right rear axle seal needs manifolds on both sides". I can't find any language in the Haynes manual, forums, parts in the list at rockauto, or in videos about replacing the 'manifolds'. Lots of videos on axle seals. Anyone have any thoughts on what the mechanic might have meant? (Yes, I could just ask, but they are hard to get ahold of - super busy and hate answering the phone)

 

[Ian_Olivas]

Maybe he had a brain fart. If it was smoking and smells like crap it was probably diff fluid and need to have the axle seals replaced. Pull the rotor off and see if it looks all gunky and like a bunch of diff fluid was leaking. It will definitely look oily on the parking brake pads if it's leaking.

 

[HemiLonestar]

First, throw that crap Haynes manual away, go here and get your proper service and parts manuals: https://www.ramforum.com/threads/3rd-gen-parts-manuals-and-2003-2004-service-manuals.6504/
Second....manifolds on the axle seal lol
Ok, if you pull the rotor off it should be painfully obvious whether you have skunk oil leaking out from the seal or not.

 

[MoparProud]

No such thing.

Haynes manuals aren’t bad, they do have incorrect info from time to time but overall they’re decent.

 

[chri5k]

Did the shop do a courtesy fill of the Turn Signal Fluid while you were there?

 

[HemiLonestar]

No such thing.

Haynes manuals aren’t bad, they do have incorrect info from time to time but overall they’re decent.

Chiltons used to be the ****......I had one from 1973 years back (needed it for 72 RR); it had EVERY American car from like 1965 in it and was very detailed. To the point that when I took it in for an alignment after rebuilding the front end I had the specs in the book for said 72 Plymouth that the shop didnt have in the 90's lol.

 

[4xdad]

Diff fluid do you mean gear oil smells like sulpher never heard of axle seal manifolds did he mean the seats l don’t think you could damage the seats maybe he was trying to see if you were a truck guy and he could milk you for more money