Leaky Butt
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Washington State
Leaky Butt
Recently replaced my RH (Pass Side) CV axle and now I have a leak where the CV axle meets the differential. I replaced the seal today with the new revised GM part and it still leaks. The old seal didn't appear to have anything wrong with it visually when I pulled it. What usually fails? Is it possible there is another seal further in the differential that has failed?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 1
From: Baldwin Park Ca
i bought a new(to me) differential, no leaks, but i still went ahead and changed all the seals and gaskets, i really dont want to dissemble the car twice. just my .02
like most say its not if but when they start to leak.
like most say its not if but when they start to leak.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 443
Likes: 101
From: Jackson CA.
I had the driver side seal and O-ring replaced on my 2000, seemed to be OK for a while, Took some spirited runs and the leak reappeared. Lived with it for a year or so when I read about the Diff vent sticking. Removed the spring and upper housing from the vent and clamped a rubber hose to the vent. It has been several months and some hot spirited runs and no leak. Do a search for the write up, this has worked for a lot of forum members. If the differential does not vent it builds up pressure and can leak from the seals. Good luck!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
I had the driver side seal and O-ring replaced on my 2000, seemed to be OK for a while, Took some spirited runs and the leak reappeared. Lived with it for a year or so when I read about the Diff vent sticking. Removed the spring and upper housing from the vent and clamped a rubber hose to the vent. It has been several months and some hot spirited runs and no leak. Do a search for the write up, this has worked for a lot of forum members. If the differential does not vent it builds up pressure and can leak from the seals. Good luck!!
... I did the vent mod on my Z06 too. No more vent puking and oil on the left side of the differential.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 1
From: Baldwin Park Ca
I had the driver side seal and O-ring replaced on my 2000, seemed to be OK for a while, Took some spirited runs and the leak reappeared. Lived with it for a year or so when I read about the Diff vent sticking. Removed the spring and upper housing from the vent and clamped a rubber hose to the vent. It has been several months and some hot spirited runs and no leak. Do a search for the write up, this has worked for a lot of forum members. If the differential does not vent it builds up pressure and can leak from the seals. Good luck!!
so pop out the cap spring and seal and just put a 6"-12" hose with a small fuel filter and zip tie that to i spot higher than the differential, i just cleaned up my transmission and my cradle i dont want it to get dirty again! lol
Last edited by -98-z28-darkness-; Sep 6, 2012 at 02:02 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Washington State
I really appreciate all the suggestions guys! The leak is definitely coming from the right (passenger) side of the output seal. The left seal appears dry which makes me believe it has something to do with this re-manufactured cv axle I bought.
Last edited by 2_60b4u; Sep 6, 2012 at 01:53 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
What are you using to install your seal with?
Defintely not this tool?.... http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...t=100_0380.jpg
The aftermarket cv axle is not causing the seal to leak.
What was the reason to change the cv axle?
Was the axle seal seal leaking prior to replacing the cv axle?
Did you change out the diff fluid?
Did you change both seals?
If so, did you change them both at the same time?
How/what did you use to change out the old seal?
If you changed the seal/seals, did you do it with the differential still on it's cradle mount?
Defintely not this tool?.... http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...t=100_0380.jpg
The aftermarket cv axle is not causing the seal to leak.
What was the reason to change the cv axle?
Was the axle seal seal leaking prior to replacing the cv axle?
Did you change out the diff fluid?
Did you change both seals?
If so, did you change them both at the same time?
How/what did you use to change out the old seal?
If you changed the seal/seals, did you do it with the differential still on it's cradle mount?
Last edited by bumble-z; Sep 6, 2012 at 03:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Washington State
What are you using to install your seal with?
Defintely not this tool?.... http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...t=100_0380.jpg
The aftermarket cv axle is not causing the seal to leak.
What was the reason to change the cv axle?
Was the axle seal seal leaking prior to replacing the cv axle?
Did you change out the diff fluid?
Did you change both seals?
If so, did you change them both at the same time?
How/what did you use to change out the old seal?
If you changed the seal/seals, did you do it with the differential still on it's cradle mount?
Defintely not this tool?.... http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...t=100_0380.jpg
The aftermarket cv axle is not causing the seal to leak.
What was the reason to change the cv axle?
Was the axle seal seal leaking prior to replacing the cv axle?
Did you change out the diff fluid?
Did you change both seals?
If so, did you change them both at the same time?
How/what did you use to change out the old seal?
If you changed the seal/seals, did you do it with the differential still on it's cradle mount?
I did not use the J tool pictured for instillation. I was able to put the seal in by hand and then I used a piece of 1x cedar to seat it all the way to the differential housing.
I only changed this one seal.
I used a seal puller and carefully pulled it out.
Yes, the differential is still on the cradle on the car.
What I can't figure out is why the gear oil would be leaking from inside the seal and not the outer circumference where it seals to the differential. There was a member who posted back in '08 that installed a reman axle and his car leaked, he replaced the output seal and it still leaked. Finally he returned the reman axle and bought a used oem axle and the leak went away.
Kinda stumped on this one...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
You didn't mention why you pulled the axle.
You didn't mention if the seal leaked prior to cv axle change out.
You didn't mention if you changed out the fluid.
Is your car/differential leaning towards the passenger side slightly?
Have you buttoned up the car & had it on the road since you replaced the seal & cv axle & now have it apart again?
You didn't mention if the seal leaked prior to cv axle change out.
You didn't mention if you changed out the fluid.
Is your car/differential leaning towards the passenger side slightly?
Have you buttoned up the car & had it on the road since you replaced the seal & cv axle & now have it apart again?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Washington State
You didn't mention why you pulled the axle.
You didn't mention if the seal leaked prior to cv axle change out.
You didn't mention if you changed out the fluid.
Is your car/differential leaning towards the passenger side slightly?
Have you buttoned up the car & had it on the road since you replaced the seal & cv axle & now have it apart again?
You didn't mention if the seal leaked prior to cv axle change out.
You didn't mention if you changed out the fluid.
Is your car/differential leaning towards the passenger side slightly?
Have you buttoned up the car & had it on the road since you replaced the seal & cv axle & now have it apart again?
Neither seal has ever leaked but they both had the updated output seal installed when RPM built the diff.
I did change the fluid but always run the same redline 75 90
I don't believe my car or diff is leaning.
Yes, car has been on the road since the seal has been replaced and reman axle installed. The gear oil on my driveway made it clear that something was not right. Mind you my car stays in the garage and it's leaking bad enough to make spots on the driveway! I took the car out and warmed up the diff fluid real good, came home and threw a piece of cardboard under the rear to notice 8 drips immediately after I parked it. Nothing more after those 8 drips.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
So you're saying that the leak isn't between the outer circumference of the seal and differential housing, and also not between the inner circumference of the seal and OD of the axle? But rather somewhere "inside" the seal and then running out the holes that run around the outside of the seal?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Washington State
So you're saying that the leak isn't between the outer circumference of the seal and differential housing, and also not between the inner circumference of the seal and OD of the axle? But rather somewhere "inside" the seal and then running out the holes that run around the outside of the seal?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW