Differential/Axle Leak
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,664
Likes: 15
From: Wellsboro Pa
Differential/Axle Leak
I just noticed that my 98 is leaking a greenish oily fluid in the rear of the car. It appears that the leak is coming from where the axle on the driver's side connects with the differential. What all is involved with replacing the gasket or seal and what kind of money would I be looking at if the dealership does the repair. I hate oil spots on my garage floor!!!!!! Please help.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 407
Likes: 2
From: Mesquite, Texas
Common problem. It's caused by a leaky axle seal in the differential side cover, and/or the o-ring seal on the side cover itself. Fairly easy repair if you have the tools and initiative to do it yourself. Among the tools you'll need in addition to typical metric wrenches, sockets, hammer, etc. are:
1. Floor jack, jackstands, etc.
2. 33mm axle spindle socket (available at Pep Boys, etc.)
Procedure involves draining differential, removing rear wheel/tire, brake caliper & rotor, disconnecting rear tie rod from wheel bearing knuckle, removing upper control arm bolts, disengaging axle half-shaft from knuckle, removing half-shaft from differential, removing differential side cover, replacing seals, reassembling, re-filling differential.
Don't know exactly what a dealer would charge, but I'd be willing to bet it would run somewhere between $600 to $1000.
Mike
1. Floor jack, jackstands, etc.
2. 33mm axle spindle socket (available at Pep Boys, etc.)
Procedure involves draining differential, removing rear wheel/tire, brake caliper & rotor, disconnecting rear tie rod from wheel bearing knuckle, removing upper control arm bolts, disengaging axle half-shaft from knuckle, removing half-shaft from differential, removing differential side cover, replacing seals, reassembling, re-filling differential.
Don't know exactly what a dealer would charge, but I'd be willing to bet it would run somewhere between $600 to $1000.
Mike
Team Owner
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,664
Likes: 15
From: Wellsboro Pa
Thanks Robert. I live in the middle of the mountains in northcentral Pennsylvania with no corvette specialists in the area. I have had work done at a Chevy dealership located 19 miles from home with good results. Unfortunately, there is a Chevy dealership only 3 miles away but they have a terrible service department.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 199
Likes: 43
From: Woodinville WA.
Try changing the diff. fluid and install Redline Gear Oil. I did and it stopped the leak in my '99
Cleaned off all the oil covering the case and drained the oil in the diff.
Refilled with Redline, went on a road trip from Seattle to eastern Washington and back. Diff showed no signs of oil leaking. Redline solved the issue.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 145
Likes: 3
From: North Easton Ma
Redline Gear Oil?
Thanks for the tip and advice! My differential is leaking and the Chevy dealer in my area wants $600 to fix the leak. I had the seals replaced 3 years ago by another local dealer and there's another leak in the same area. Needless to say; Crap Job! Before I try this expensive fix again, are there any other products that may do the same thing or are made to stop leaky seals on the differentials? How does Redline Gear Oil stop the leakage? Redline offers 2 grades, 75/140 and 75/90., so which grade did you use? Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,050
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
I'm no Corvette expert yet but in most cases just adding redline would be a temporary problem solver. If it's such a common problem and is usually the o-ring seal then adding redline no matter how good it actually is isn't going to just fix the o-ring seal. It would probably have to be changed. I'd like to hear how the redline is in a few months from the time of putting it in.
I know living in no-where is tough so you might put in some redline until you have the time to actually take it some where worthy of working on the vette.
Just my opinions here. Hope everything works out the best for you.
-Shawn
I know living in no-where is tough so you might put in some redline until you have the time to actually take it some where worthy of working on the vette.
Just my opinions here. Hope everything works out the best for you.
-Shawn
