M38A1's front axle question

[Bravo2Uniform]

I apologize for this question, but this is my first time tearing down an M38A1's front axle...or any axle for that part. When I pulled the knuckles and shafts, I found this:



There's a lot of grease in the axle itself, and it isn't very viscous and possibly diluted. From the books I have studied and the videos I have watched, this shouldn't be like this. The axles I have seen in the rebuild videos have no grease in them. I can't figure out if this is indicative of a bad seal or something or supposed to be in there. I had assumed that after you install the new shafts and knuckles that you would inject a certain type of grease (from the Lubrication Order) but didn't realize it was supposed to fill the axle housing.

In any event, I have to remove this gunk. Any ideas on how to get it out? Degreaser? Giant Q-tip?

I have ordered a front axle rebuild kit.

 

[Al Harvey]

If there is grease is in the housing, then it sounds like a bad seal.

 

[mhassett]

Looks likegrease has mixed with some water. Seal leak.

 

[NDT]

Knuckle is supposed to have grease in it. Looks normal to me. I use a roll of paper towels to remove the old grease, sort of like cleaning the oven, just wipe and wipe and wipe till it's all gone.

 

[Bravo2Uniform]

I have confirmed it is a bad seal on both ends. The "stuff" in the shaft is a mixture of knuckle grease and 90 SAE weight differential oil. And brother, it bothers me that it is in there but I can't see that it will do any harm when the new seals are in place. Anyone disagree?

I am on a steep but enjoyable learning curve. This is the first time I've been brave enough to mess with differentials and transmissions.