What sort of fluid leaks you guys have? My list is quite extensive. When I purchased this car 6,000 miles ago, it had been sitting for 8-10 years. Now that I have driven it regularly in the summers, I have had a bunch of leaks develop.

1- Rear Main Seal: I am pretty sure about this one, as oil is dripping from the back of the pan. I will replace this seal very soon.

2- Calipers: I replaced the rears already, but the LF is slightly wet on the bottom. How risky is it to drive under this condition? I will do the front brakes and M/C this winter too.

3- Power Steering: Dripping from the hoses, ram, and control body! Rather than replace all the components, I think I will rebuild them. Who provides the best seal kits?

4- Transmission: I am not to sure about this. It may also be coming from the rear main seal, but I do have another small puddle under the transmission. Also, my new clutch chatters sometimes, for no apparent reason. How common is it for the main shaft seal to leak? Can this cause clutch chatter? How hard to replace? Could an incorrectly sized pilot bushing cause the shaft to deflect and damage the seal? Where else does a Muncie leak from?

5- Differential: I fixed this today, simply added some sealant to the fill plug threads.

6- T-tops and doors leak water from everywhere when I wash the car. Even if I replace all of the weather-stripping, will this eliminate all water leaks? Or are C3’s suppose to leak?

 

Mine is like yours. She has 1000 miles on her since her 24 sit. I replaced every major component though, so the only leak is actually the T-Tops.

 

My power steering sounds like yours. I have to refill it every other time I take the car out. I am definitly regbuilding it this winter. I saw rebuilding kits from ZIP. They look a little costly there so i am going to keep shopping.

 

I must be lucky. I don't have a lot of leaks. I have a little oil leaking, but nothing major. My T-tops have never leaked. I get a couple of drips around the driver window after a car wash, but i chalk that up to opening the door with all the water still on the car.

 

Cam, although my car has leaks from both the front and rear seals, as well as a small leak at the valve cover. I prefer to take a more optimistic view.

I feel that my car is very territorial. It like to mark its area to make sure other cars know that they are on Corvette territory. Kinda like a dog that raises its leg to mark every mailbox and fire hydrant :D

 

On the water leaks: very common, but they can be eliminated. One helpful publication (cheap too!) is "Fixing water leaks and wind noise on 68-82 Corvettes" by Michael Davis. Motorbooks International stocks it. It's not the be all - end all, but it was helpful for me.

Hans

 

When I bought my Vette it was a rolling environmental hazard! It leaked every fluid possible. I've fixed/rebuilt every part and guess what, it still leaks! :cry It's the paradox that drives us all.

I just fixed a header gasket exhaust leak and a trans pan gasket leak. While I was under there I noticed it leaking oil from the rear main seal. It never ends. :rolleyes:


[Modified by vettesite, 12:47 PM 10/23/2002]

 

On the drivetrain and breaks - I don't have any leaks at all... Well - basically everything is less than 2 years old.... The only leaks that I have are around the deck.. If it rains heavyly, the carpet in the rear gets very wet.. There's also a leak somewhere in front..... I don't drive the Vette in rain (I try to) but in Florida it's almost inpossible to predict the weather - especially in summer...

:cheers:

Olivier

 

When I first bought my 78 I had some water leaks around the t-tops. I replaced the weatherstriping and it still leaked some. I was reading Corvette Fever one day and saw an article on t-top leaks and it showed where you can adjust the bolt on the t-top handle to make a tighter fit. This stopped my leak problem. If you haven't already you might give that a try. :cheers:

 

I have a small oil drip from the back of the valve cover. I have a mystery leak of clear oil(power steering?) . And rain leaks in everywhere, OH wait that dosen't count, I didn't have the top up when the bottom suddenly fell out one day. :lol: