Rear leak. What do I have here?
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Chocowninity NC
output shaft and/or the side cover gasket as well. This is the dreaded leaky butt. Did mine last year following the directions on the forum. Not a bad job for a somewhat mechanically involved person. I didn't ever want to track down any more leaks so I pulled the entire rear and did both output shafts and did the 3 O-ring gaskets with the special GM sealant. 15,000 hard miles later and it is still nice and dry.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
Definitely the side cover gasket, and I would go ahead and do the axle seal while you're at it. Not a bad job. Be prepared to spend $50 on a small tube of the GM anaerobic sealant though. 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
Are you referring to the Shaft Seals? I replaced mine 3 years ago, didn't use the GM anaerobic sealant and it's still dry as a bone in the desert !
Last edited by SG Lou; Jun 6, 2014 at 08:46 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 7
From: South Florida
front cover gasket 89047954 $8.91 GMPartshouse
output shaft seals (x2) (axle shaft seal?) 88996703 $21.01 GMPartshouse
rear axel "side" seals (x2) (side cover O-ring) 89047953 $52.14 GMPartshouse
add sealant to side cover 1052942 $22.30 GMPartshouse
I just did it.
output shaft seals (x2) (axle shaft seal?) 88996703 $21.01 GMPartshouse
rear axel "side" seals (x2) (side cover O-ring) 89047953 $52.14 GMPartshouse
add sealant to side cover 1052942 $22.30 GMPartshouse
I just did it.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 7
From: South Florida
I took the whole car apart. There are 5476 parts in all.
just kidding. I did take the entire drivetrain out. I had to rebuild the dif, open and inspect the trans, rebuild the TT, and replace the clutch.
If you are leaving it in, It may be worthwhile to drop the rear subframe.
just kidding. I did take the entire drivetrain out. I had to rebuild the dif, open and inspect the trans, rebuild the TT, and replace the clutch.
If you are leaving it in, It may be worthwhile to drop the rear subframe.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 740
Likes: 5
From: Albuquerque NM
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
