another leaky butt
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 129
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From: bellefonte pa
another leaky butt
heres the story bought 04 vert with an unknowing leaky butt. the dealer is cool to pay for the repair (no warranty). they want a estiment from the mechanic. how much can I expect this bill to be?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I had mine done under warranty back in Nov 03 in Vegas. From my invoice they booked $325 to GM at the time including parts and labor, although I guess those rates may have risen by now. It was quite a strip down at the rear end as I saw my car up on the lift. Not a job I'd tackle, particularly as the dealer is happy to do the work.
Last edited by DeeGee; Nov 25, 2008 at 03:21 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: West Grove Pa
Yep I've heard dealerships charging as much as $1200 to replace the seals. But I'll tell you for that kind of money I'd go to ECS and have them replace the seals and put in a set of 370 or 410 gears to boot.
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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Did mine at home on my lift last month in about two hours. I believe the dealer's book allows about 2 hours for the repair. It's labor only as the parts are next to nothing. My car was leaking with only 9,000 miles on it. Bad design. They relied on an o-ring to seal the side cover. It needs the sealant applied to keep it from leaking. About $450 at dealer prices. Use the GM synthetic rear diff fluid and 1 4 0z bottle of GM posi lube.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Willis Texas
got the whole thing done to mine in the spring the dealer charged $275. They forgot to add the cost of the syn gear oil, but did not charge me for it. Mine is a 2000 A4 and had about 36,000 on it at time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 829
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From: sun prairie wi
Did you just buy it?Does your state require a vehicle inspection?Is the leak listed on the inspection sheet?I doubt it just started leaking.Maybe you could use the sheet to guilt them into paying?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 562
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From: Southington Connecticut
Driver's side differential seal leak is an epidemic with these cars. It seems like every one will fail sooner or later. Just had mine done at 50K miles at a Corvette specialty shop. It seems the real cause of the problem is poorly designed vent at the top of the differential that clogs over time. Once that happens, pressure builds in the differential beyond the seal capability. Have to clean out the vent to keep it from happening again sooner rather than later, but it will most likely happen again if and when the vent clogs.
To have it done right, its about 2 1/2 hours labor plus parts and fluids. Would have been around $350 were it not for coverage by my extended warranty.
To have it done right, its about 2 1/2 hours labor plus parts and fluids. Would have been around $350 were it not for coverage by my extended warranty.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Deerfield VA
St. Jude Donor '07
Is the axle vent removable? I used to remove the axle vents off Ford trucks, (steel) re-drill them out to 1/8" and never had a seal blow out again. Could it be we have the same problem with the 'vette rear?
John
John
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From: Houston,Texas USA
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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If you can move the vent tube up an down it is operating properly. MIne was functioning fine but the rear end side cover was still leaking. With the poor design of the side cover seal it's destined to leak regardless.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: New Castle Del.
St. Jude Donor '09
I would just fix the seal that is leaking unless the other on looks wet around it also. Not sure how far you are from me but if you need someone to fix it feel free to PM me.