Leaking Trans-axle can you help?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
Leaking Trans-axle can you help?
I have a 99 with less than 39,000 miles on it. When I bought it in 2005 the dealer replaced the half shaft seal and the cover seal on the diff. in 2006 they did it again because it was leaking again. With less than 5,000 miles since both repairs were made I found rear axle lube under the car again today. I have not yet confirmed it but I'd bet from the position on the floor it is again from the left side of the rear end. Naturally it is now out of warranty. This car is not driven hard or raced! Why is this happening? This is
I have had enough with the dealership so this time I'm going to do the repair. I have three questions. First why is it happening? Second does anyone have the procedure on how to correctly make the repair? Third what do I need to watch out for? Make that four questions have I missed anything? Thanks in advance for any help on this subject?
I have had enough with the dealership so this time I'm going to do the repair. I have three questions. First why is it happening? Second does anyone have the procedure on how to correctly make the repair? Third what do I need to watch out for? Make that four questions have I missed anything? Thanks in advance for any help on this subject?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
If there is any leakage out the vent, it will drip off the bottom of the LH side cover making it look like a side cover leak. This happened a few times on my 02, but I found it was the vent puking. Make sure the diff oil level is not too full. Clean everything up and check for leakage at the vent, the axle seal and cover seals after a few days of driving to determine exactly where the fluid is coming from.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
If there is any leakage out the vent, it will drip off the bottom of the LH side cover making it look like a side cover leak. This happened a few times on my 02, but I found it was the vent puking. Make sure the diff oil level is not too full. Clean everything up and check for leakage at the vent, the axle seal and cover seals after a few days of driving to determine exactly where the fluid is coming from.
You need to do the above check first. If it ends up being the seal, the last replacement may have been done with the earlier seal, there is a newer one that supersedes the older one. Same with the case side cover o'ring. There is a larger cross section o'ring that supersedes the old one. For the side cover I also use Loctite 515 flange sealant taking care not to get it on the o'ring and just the flange area. I have over 12,000 miles since replacement with no more leaks.Here is a link that might help you -> http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...e-junkman.html
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
If there is any leakage out the vent, it will drip off the bottom of the LH side cover making it look like a side cover leak. This happened a few times on my 02, but I found it was the vent puking. Make sure the diff oil level is not too full. Clean everything up and check for leakage at the vent, the axle seal and cover seals after a few days of driving to determine exactly where the fluid is coming from.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
You need to do the above check first. If it ends up being the seal, the last replacement may have been done with the earlier seal, there is a newer one that supersedes the older one. Same with the case side cover o'ring. There is a larger cross section o'ring that supersedes the old one. For the side cover I also use Loctite 515 flange sealant taking care not to get it on the o'ring and just the flange area. I have over 12,000 miles since replacement with no more leaks.Here is a link that might help you -> http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...e-junkman.html
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
Well I checked it!
There is diff lube from the center of the diff down and a circle of it where it was thrown off the halfshaft. The top of the diff is dry. From the diff back its wet with lube. As they used to say on "Trick My Truck" Time to "tear down"! A question for any of the readers of these posts. Can you remove the half shafts without removing all the suspension. I think if you pull the wheel, caliper, rotor, you should be able to pull the bearing unit and the half shaft should come out through the hole where the bearing unit was mounted. Anyone got any information on this?
