Hi,

This afternoon I got a call from the Service Department telling me that the pinion seal is damaged and the rear end ran out of oil and is damaged too. :-(

And the car has 18000 miles on it and has not been abused.

So I will be without my car for a week which really sucks as I will drive to Sears Point on Sunday to see the race and to Carmel with my girlfriend on Monday.

I was so much looking forward to taking the Convertible but instead I'll probably get a loaner Cavalier coupe or something :-(

Oh well, good thing the rearend didn't fail while I was driving.

Chris

'00 Camaro SS Convertible - at the shop :-(

 

Hey there,

I just bought my first Camaro back in May and when I test drove it I thought it needed a wheel bearing or something back there from the rumbling noise. Got a good deal on her because of the work she needed done; brakes all the way around, front struts, tires, and the rear end noise. Took it to a local shop that was recommended to me and they told me the whole thing had to be rebuilt too. Both pinion and carrier bearings as well as the axle bearings needed replaced as well as all the seals, pinion nut and crush sleeve. Took them about 6 hours and $600.00. The guy there told me in the last 2 years he has rebuilt more than 18 Camaro/Firebird rear ends as they are nothing more than a glorified Astro minivan rear end. Just a weak link in the power chain I guess. Once that was fixed the noise was gone and she runs like a scalded dog once again.

------------------
Y2K SS, Pewter with black leather and all the options except for traction (self) control!!

 

Hi, I had the same problem with my Z. It was around 1k miles when i noticed there was fluid all around my rear end and thrown on the exhaust pipe and carmelized. Luckily I got it on a lift at school to put my CAGS in or else the rear would have gone. Future warning to owners, check your rear end everynow and then cause this seems like a reoccuring problem.

------------------
2002 Silver Z28 M6
-Hurst Short Throw
-T-Tops
-Leather
-LoudMouth Cat-Back
-SLP Lid w/ K&N Filter
-CAGS! Skip Shift Elim.

My 2002 Z28

 

I had my seal changed also, at 4K miles.

------------------

Bob
'02 Z/28 Silver 6spd, Magna Flow muffler, Whisper Lid, Y2K C5 Silver 17"/18"
305hp 320tq vettenet.org

 

I'm on that list to. I had a bad pinion seal, then the carrier bearings went bad. Had to replace carrier, pinion bearings, and crush sleeve. $700 total. Thankfully the ring gear wasn't tore up. (and boy it was louder than my loudmouth exhaust when it was at its worst)

 

Do you guys change your oil?? Do you not check your rearend at the same time?? Do you not notice if there is fluid under your car where you park??

If your pinion seal is leaking bad enough to cause you to lose enough gear oil to bust your rearend - then you would be seeing a nice build up oil under you car where you park it ... when that happens take action.


------------------
'01 Mystic Teal Z28
A4/3.73
Mods List Here

12.12/112.81/1.70 60'
325 rwhp/341 rwtq
www.MysticZ28.com

NorCal LS1/LT1

"To play it safe is not to play"

 

Look, I check my car more than every time I change my oil. And the seal was replaced when I saw that it was bad. So don't assume that we are not mechanically inclined. Rear ends go bad. Mine was full of fluid when it went bad.

 

There was no fluid whatsoever undber my car when I parked.

I later found out the dealer had only topped off the fluid and changed the seal. So apparently the rearend was not quite as damaged as he claimed at first.

 

these cars have very few miles on them..who checks the rear end oil after 1000 miles? The fact is, these rear ends SUCK!!!!!