Rear Diff Pinion Seal and Power Steering Valve Leak
08-04-2013, 10:46 AM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Rear Diff Pinion Seal and Power Steering Valve Leak
About 10 years ago I completely rebuilt the differential and replaced the power steering control valve with a new unit.
The valve starting leaking "again" soon after, much worse now and I noticed some oil coming from the diff pinion seal.
The car is not driven much, the rear pinion seal may have 10,000 miles on it. The seals were purchased from a good company so I am at a loss as to why they leak. The 30 year old pre-rebuild seals didn't leak at all, at least to the point where spots would form on the floor after a week of sitting.
Question 1: I recall having to apply significant torque to the pinion nut to properly set the clearances. I assume the seal cannot be replaced with diff on car?
Question 2:
Are there any decent power steering components out there that don't inherently leak 24/7?
The valve starting leaking "again" soon after, much worse now and I noticed some oil coming from the diff pinion seal.
The car is not driven much, the rear pinion seal may have 10,000 miles on it. The seals were purchased from a good company so I am at a loss as to why they leak. The 30 year old pre-rebuild seals didn't leak at all, at least to the point where spots would form on the floor after a week of sitting.
Question 1: I recall having to apply significant torque to the pinion nut to properly set the clearances. I assume the seal cannot be replaced with diff on car?
Question 2:
Are there any decent power steering components out there that don't inherently leak 24/7?
08-04-2013, 12:18 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Replacing the pinion seal is not difficult, but it is a little more challenging doing it on the car. THe hard part is getting the preload back on the bearings. Mark the location of the nut and count the threads showing. Do the R&R, then tighten the nut back to that spot without going past that point. There should be a couple of posts on here describing the easy way to do that. Search for pinion seal.
The only leak I have on my p/s is just a wet spot on the control valve- it always has a drop hanging on it, but never leaves a spot on the floor. At least not that I've noticed.
The only leak I have on my p/s is just a wet spot on the control valve- it always has a drop hanging on it, but never leaves a spot on the floor. At least not that I've noticed.
08-04-2013, 03:52 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Thanks for the feed back, upon closer observation today it seems the oil may not be coming from the seal but maybe from center of the yoke where the threaded section of the shaft passes through the yoke. The oil is being slung and coating everything in the area then dripping down the brackets and dripping to the floor....just a little. If it was coming from the seal I would have expected to see a drip at the yoke/dust shield area but it was as dry as a bone.
08-04-2013, 03:59 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
IF there's not any sealer on the splines of the pinion and yoke they will seep a little as the oil crawls thru them. I'd clean it up and live with it until there's a real reason to pull the yoke.