Diff Leak But Not pinion seal
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 336
Likes: 173
From: Canadian living in southern France
Diff Leak But Not pinion seal
I've done a search, but didn't find much.
Has anyone ever had a leak right near the pinion seal, but it wasn't that? I was so sure it was, I bought one, went to start on it today, and it looks fine right around the seal. The oil seems to be coming from slightly above, right around where those two big bolts go through the diff case. Of course, the oil has spread around, and now it's hard to find where its coming from.
Any ideas?
Has anyone ever had a leak right near the pinion seal, but it wasn't that? I was so sure it was, I bought one, went to start on it today, and it looks fine right around the seal. The oil seems to be coming from slightly above, right around where those two big bolts go through the diff case. Of course, the oil has spread around, and now it's hard to find where its coming from.
Any ideas?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
Typically the leak in front of the diff would be from the seal and/or the splines of the yoke. I have found some seals are not as good as others and have stuck with CR/SKF for all differential pinion seals. Also if there is a wear groove in the yoke where the seal rides it will leak. A speedy sleeve is made for that.
Now there is the remote possibility there is a crack in the housing but I think I have only seen 1-2 cracked housings in the 100's I worked on and those were from an internal event over the posi. So I would look at the above areas and that should resolve the problem.
Now there is the remote possibility there is a crack in the housing but I think I have only seen 1-2 cracked housings in the 100's I worked on and those were from an internal event over the posi. So I would look at the above areas and that should resolve the problem.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,787
Likes: 261
From: Blue Bell PA
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
A few years ago I noticed oil around the top of the spare tire housing. It was coming
from the vent . I desided to check the oil level in the rear. It was completely full of
oil. Like someone filled the rear when it was not in the car. I think I remember hearing
about this here . I removed all the oil and replaced it with new. No leaks now.
from the vent . I desided to check the oil level in the rear. It was completely full of
oil. Like someone filled the rear when it was not in the car. I think I remember hearing
about this here . I removed all the oil and replaced it with new. No leaks now.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 336
Likes: 173
From: Canadian living in southern France
Ok, thanks folks. I've got some new things to check now. I did add oil to it while it was on a friend's hoist. I wonder if the car was tilted forward or backward enough to have me over-filling it.
It's odd, but the pinion seal and both half shaft seals look dry. It seems to be coming from above so the breather is a possibility. I felt around for it quickly, but didn't fine it.
Back at it tomorrow. I've got a whole new dual exhaust system to go on, but don't want it in the way if I have to pull the driveshaft, yolk, etc.
It's odd, but the pinion seal and both half shaft seals look dry. It seems to be coming from above so the breather is a possibility. I felt around for it quickly, but didn't fine it.
Back at it tomorrow. I've got a whole new dual exhaust system to go on, but don't want it in the way if I have to pull the driveshaft, yolk, etc.
