Hi Folks,

Relatively new to the Sidekick, have already completely quite a bit of work on it though.

Background:
1994 Suzuki Sidekick 4dr hardtop
Installed a 2inch body lift and 2inch suspension lift in the form of coil and strut spacers. There is no front diff drop bracket fitted. I then put 14,000km on it.

Recently I noticed a leak from where the front right axle fits into the diff. (See picture)

My question is could the lift kit have caused this?
And As for fixing it, would I be after the "Front Inner Axel Shaft Seal"?

Found on http://www.rockauto.com/
TIMKEN 222630 {#0928326010, 0928326016, 94652835} 
Front Inner; 4WD; SJF, SKF

Thanks in advance. 

Could the lift kit have cause the leak?  Yes & no.

On the Suzuki front diff, that axle has no support bearing - the lift would have increased the angle that the CV axle sits at and placed additional stress on the seal and contributed to the leak, but, many people have used 2" lifts and not had leaks.

I don't think the seal you're looking at is the correct one - what I think you need is the differential side seal - and whilst you're in there, there is a nylon support bush that can be fitted - it was developed for the later models but should also fit yours - I don't have access to the part numbers right now, but I'll try to dig them out and post them tomorrow.

http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/vitara-/-x90/driveshaft-nylon-support-bearing/prod_458.html

The link above documents the nylon bush and also has the Suzuki part number for the seal - yeah - I know it's a UK vendor, but if you try to source the bush from Suzuki (the part number is provided in the link if you want to try), it'll cost you more than getting out of the UK.

Hi, have you fitted this nylon bush? I'm looking at doing a 2" lift on mine and it's been recommended that I fit this bearing and a new seal.

The drive shaft support bushing looks like this one from Bits4Vits:

http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/vitara-/-x90/driveshaft-nylon-support-bearing/prod_458.html

I can't locate the actual OEM TSB part number.

Adding manual hubs to your front axle should stop your front CVs from turning during normal driving and greatly reduce the wear on the seal too.  I get aggravated at my WARN hubs because they will be finicky occasionally, but they do reduce wear on this seal and also take a little resistance off the drive train during normal driving which can increase the MPGs ever so slightly.

The TSB itself and the Suzuki part number for the bush are available from that bits4vits webpage, which is the same one I linked to earlier.  The TSB is specific to the older models the 98~05 Vitaras & Grand Vitaras, but the bush will also fit the earlier models.

Thanks!  You are right (again) Fordem.  I had looked right over it and didn't see it in the blue script.

Sounds like we have a fix plan in place, new seal and bushing.

My kick already has manual locking hubs. (thank god, not a fan of auto hubs)