Differential Oil Leak

[fiasco]

I originally posted this question in a post about filling the diff oil, but now I'm starting a new post specifically for diagnosing the leak itself.



I wiped the bottom of the diff down and within 10-15 seconds I had oil dripping off the bottom. There was shiny oil where the two pieces join together as in the picture. All the oil was on the driver's side - passenger side was dry. It looked to me like the seepage started about where the top arrow is pointing in the picture above.

Mark originally suggested that it was probably the pinion seal, and that it would be unusual for there to be a leak at the flange. I'm not sure where the pinion seal is, but the leak sure looks like it is right there at the flange.

So who else has an opinion regarding pinion seal vs. flange? How big a hole am I in as far as being able to fix this on my own? I'm putting in about a half-quart of gl-5 a week.

-- se

-- se

[majicwrench]

Is not pinion seal, it is right there where carrier bolts to housing, pretty obvious.
Pull axles, pull carrier out, new gasket.
Keith

[fiasco]

Hey - cool. That sounds super easy. Just slip those axles right out, pop that carrier off, and slap on the new gasket. Nuthin' to it.

Seriously - how hard a job is this? How much other stuff do I have to take off to accomplish this task?

I've got shocks coming in in a couple weeks - would it be good timing to try to do this while I have the wheels off to replace the shocks? Remember now, I'm not a mechanic. I don't have a lift, just a couple of jack stands. I'll be doing all this work on my back in my driveway. When I take those bolts out to get to the gasket, are a bunch of gears going to fall out on the ground?

Is this the gasket we're talking about?


"Pull axles, pull carrier out, new gasket." Nuthin' to it, right?

-- se

[fiasco]

Bump.

I really could use some feedback on this. Is the gasket pictured above the one I am looking for? What kind of job is it to get in and replace the gasket?

Thanks,
-- se

[Curly]

Bump.

I really could use some feedback on this. Is the gasket pictured above the one I am looking for? What kind of job is it to get in and replace the gasket?

Thanks,
-- se

That's the correct gasket.
The job's not difficult, but you will need a large pair of circlip pliers to remove the circlips that retain the axles.
1. Drain oil from diff.
2. Remove wheels
3. Undo bolts securing rear brake calipers to the axle housing and move them out of the way - off the brake rotor - this can be done without disturbing brake hoses or handbrake cables.
4. Remove brake rotors.
5. Undo circlips in axle housing behind axle flange and pull axles out about 2" - a small amount of oil usually spills as well !
6. Remove nuts and bolts securing drive shaft flange to diff flange and tie shaft up out of the way.
7. Check that all brake pipes and hoses are out of the way and won't interfere with the removal of the diff centre.
8. Undo all the nuts around the diff centre and pull the diff centre out forwards - it is quite heavy so don't drop it on your fingers.
9. Remove gasket and clean both mating faces before replacing gasket (with some gasket cement if you wish) and reversing the above procedure.

Hope it goes well for you.

[fiasco]

Thanks Curly. That's just what I needed.

I'll probably just keep putting oil in it for a couple of weeks while I order a gasket and wait for my shocks to come in. Then I can do this job and the shocks at the same time on a nice leisurely Saturday. Look for pics of the job later this month.

-- se