[Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks]
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: CT
[Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks]
What would cause my rear end to leak? It was overfilled originally(2quarts plus friction modifier) and piddled fluid all over my exhaust. It's going back together soon,and I don't want the same thing to happen twice. I just looked underneath the car and the rear was a bit wet. From the front area was not soaked...but not dry either. The back area seems to be OK. Should I remove it and have it inspected? I have NO CLUE the mileage. It came out of a 1991 ZR-1 back from Ed's Corvette Shanty's Shop.
Any opinions/thoughts are welcome. What does a complete R-R D44 run?
Thank you........
Jay
Any opinions/thoughts are welcome. What does a complete R-R D44 run?
Thank you........
Jay
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Re: [Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks] (JD 90 383)
Clean that thing real good with some solvent and then see if it is still leaking before shucking out some big bills for a R-R job. I just installed mine and only put one quart and the LSD stuff in it. Manual says about 6mm or 1/4" below the sight plug. Don't ask me how we are supposed to measure that though.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,339
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From: WilkesBarre PA
Re: [Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks] (Goody)
Maybe the front seal is seaping just a bit if it's still the original seal. If the leak was from being overfilled it would come out the breather on top of the rear. How was it overfilled? I allways fill a rear up till it leaks back out the fill hole. The only way you could overfill it is if the car was on a severe angle to the driverside or the rear was together totally out of the car then filled.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: [Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks] (RichS)
Agree with RichS, if overfilled it will vent / spray. This is not a big deal usually. Only thing is that it may foam the oil a little, and those "bubbles" pop on the gear faces and don't lube well. I would just pump the old oil out and re-fill with a good oil to the correct level and see what happens.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
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Re: [Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks] (PeteL)
Its not overfilled. It is very common for the front seals to leak if they have been replaced. Some don't know this but you are supposed to apply a small amount of silicone to the back side of the seal. If you do this and let it set up before you put the grease back in it you will be fine. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: CT
Re: [Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks] (C4 4Me)
Thanks..... Rich, originaly, it was out of the car when it was filled. We put two quarts in it. It seeped around the gasket sealant area pretty badly. We drained a little out and it's dry there now. Not sure if it's from the vent hole or the front seal. It's wiped clean now...I'll take a look and see how things are. How difficult is a pinion seal? Anyone done one of them? Again, I don't know the mileage of it...Hopefully all is well furthermore.
[Modified by JD 90 383, 11:45 AM 12/31/2001]
[Modified by JD 90 383, 11:45 AM 12/31/2001]
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From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
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Re: [Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks] (JD 90 383)
I loose some out the vent.
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Re: [Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks] (mackeyred96)
Hey JD,
Dem things can be tricky to track down.
Lost a front seal at 8,000 miles on a NEW rear end.New seal isnt leaking anymore...dont know why the first one did.
Theyre not hard to replace and your mechanic can do it easily on a lift.
Also check the drain plug hole and make sure theres no cracks where its threaded.
That oil sure stinks back there eh?I was burning it off the exhaust for a while and man I had to stop driving the car for a few days and clean it up instead.
:)
Dem things can be tricky to track down.
Lost a front seal at 8,000 miles on a NEW rear end.New seal isnt leaking anymore...dont know why the first one did.
Theyre not hard to replace and your mechanic can do it easily on a lift.
Also check the drain plug hole and make sure theres no cracks where its threaded.
That oil sure stinks back there eh?I was burning it off the exhaust for a while and man I had to stop driving the car for a few days and clean it up instead.
:)
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 27,818
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From: CT
Re: [Maintenance question: Dana 44 Leaks] (Bill's86Coupe)
Hi Bill,
Yes that stuff wreaks. Rubber gloves definitely must be worn when handling this crap....God knows how you get the stink off your hands.
I can't tell you how tough it was to get that off my exhaust. I don't want to go through this again,so the car will sit until it's leak free...It'll drive me nuts seeing it sit, but this is a one time only situation(hopefully).
I'll do the front seal anyway... I'm sure it'll need it. To humor everyone a little, the car this came out of...they plasma cut the front frame off and buzzed through the torque arm. God knows why? It doesn't take much to un-bolt it. I couldn't see doing that to a ZR-1. Some people eh?
Thanks again,Happy New Year Everyone.
Jay-D
Yes that stuff wreaks. Rubber gloves definitely must be worn when handling this crap....God knows how you get the stink off your hands.
I can't tell you how tough it was to get that off my exhaust. I don't want to go through this again,so the car will sit until it's leak free...It'll drive me nuts seeing it sit, but this is a one time only situation(hopefully).
I'll do the front seal anyway... I'm sure it'll need it. To humor everyone a little, the car this came out of...they plasma cut the front frame off and buzzed through the torque arm. God knows why? It doesn't take much to un-bolt it. I couldn't see doing that to a ZR-1. Some people eh?
Thanks again,Happy New Year Everyone.
Jay-D
