[C2] Differential Leak ?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
Differential Leak ?
I have a clear, viscous, greasy fluid dripping onto the hood of the Thunderbird as it sits under the 63 coupe on the lift...its prob a teaspoon full the two times I've found it. It doesn't look or smell like rear end lube. I can see the T-Bird's red paint right through the stuff..
The car had zerkless U-joints installed last summer, do these things sling a little goo after a while ? The DS inboard half-shaft U-joint looks a little damp...
I'll check the differential fluid later today but, again, this fluid doesn't look like typical rear end lube.
The car had zerkless U-joints installed last summer, do these things sling a little goo after a while ? The DS inboard half-shaft U-joint looks a little damp...
I'll check the differential fluid later today but, again, this fluid doesn't look like typical rear end lube.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Jun 4, 2019 at 09:43 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,394
Likes: 2,769
From: Pittsburgh
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
I have a clear, viscous, greasy fluid dripping onto the hood of the Thunderbird as it sits under the 63 coupe on the lift...its prob a teaspoon full the two times I've found it. It doesn't look or smell like rear end lube. I can see the T-Bird's red paint right through the stuff..
The car had zerkless U-joints installed last summer, do these things sling a little goo after a while ? The DS inboard half-shaft U-joint looks a little damp...
I'll check the differential fluid later today but, again, this fluid doesn't look like typical rear end lube.
The car had zerkless U-joints installed last summer, do these things sling a little goo after a while ? The DS inboard half-shaft U-joint looks a little damp...
I'll check the differential fluid later today but, again, this fluid doesn't look like typical rear end lube.
Last edited by dcamick; Jun 4, 2019 at 10:17 AM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
I'm gonna drop the spare tire tub tonight and clean everything off and check the fluid....I'm hoping its just the differential cover gasket and not a pinion or axle leak. I checked the torque on the rear cover and those bolts are really tight...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,415
Likes: 1,218
From: Glen Allen VA
Differential oil has a unique odor. First leak is traditionally engine oil, followed by transmission oil. Diff and u joints, not so much. If you park in the same orientation, can you verify the area it drips from? May be Corvette doesn’t like FoMoCo on it’s turf.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 17,571
Likes: 3,460
From: Fresno California
I hope it's not brake fluid! Seriously, Frank, if it were gear oil from the trans or the rear end, you could tell.....the stuff stinks and is greenish yellow. And THICK. U-joint grease could be more likely, as it is odorless and in hot weather, can run. Let's hope that's the culprit. Personally, I just think the SWC is marking it's territory and pissing on the T-Bird deliberately.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
Dzus fasteners. Comes in very handy for quick disassembly/reassembly of cars that go through weekly tear downs. A must have for quick service in the pits and driveway warriors that want to save time..
Last edited by MikeM; Jun 4, 2019 at 12:04 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
Yes I have drip trays (I've repositioned them now to cover the leak, no, definitely not brake fluid as its been DOT-3 for years and would have flat eaten T-Bird paint and the differential is topped off or very close to it maybe 1/8" below the fill plug hole. Dry under the pinion seal, dry under the axle flanges and and around the fill plug. There was some dampness along the bottom of the case and around the bottom two bolts. Nothing blowing back from the transmission/engine area.
Cleaned everything off real good and will check for drips tomorrow, if nothing, I'll take it for a good ride and park it and check again. Not shock absorber or the U-joints -- I can see some of the U-joint grease and its a medium-bodied greenish-gray grease, not clear syrupy fluid.
I'll get back with whatever I find out. Gads I don't want to mess with that differential now that I've refreshed my memory on how it attaches to things.
Cleaned everything off real good and will check for drips tomorrow, if nothing, I'll take it for a good ride and park it and check again. Not shock absorber or the U-joints -- I can see some of the U-joint grease and its a medium-bodied greenish-gray grease, not clear syrupy fluid.
I'll get back with whatever I find out. Gads I don't want to mess with that differential now that I've refreshed my memory on how it attaches to things.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Jun 4, 2019 at 01:55 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 17,571
Likes: 3,460
From: Fresno California
Frank, in hot weather I have seen wheel bearing/u-joint grease 'sweat' like old fashioned peanut butter and drop clear drops of oil....this may be the case. Ever open up a tin of grease and see a small pool of liquid in it on a hot day? This could be what's happening. I hear you on the rear end....that white '66 I was looking at really hard needed the entire rear end rebuilt.....and when I saw how it was assembled and installed, I felt really good hopping back in my solid axle and motoring off!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
I hear ya Jeff. I'll take the car on a 25 mile run tomorrow, park it on the lift and see what oozes out....its almost like I have to get the driveline up to a certain temp or perhaps get the fluids sloshing around real good before this happens; we'll see..
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 17,571
Likes: 3,460
From: Fresno California
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,470
Likes: 1,548
From: Camp Verde AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist
You should be able to spot a drip under the rails. BTW, there should only be one cylinder, under one rail.
Doug
Doug
Last edited by AZDoug; Jun 4, 2019 at 04:31 PM.