I put my car on the lift while I was chaning oil and I noticed gear oil leaking. It smelled good, it didn't smell old or anything. The differential is leaking from the front where the drive shaft is connected, it's leaking through those seals. Will the fact that the gear was chnaged from stock to 4.10 have anyhting to do with it? I don't think they take the drive shaft out when they do that? I find it wierd. I have over 65000 miles on that diff. and I changed the oil 30,000 miles ago.

 

Your pinion seal is leaking. Mine went out at 40K miles.

Replacing the seal is no biggie and a shop can do it in less than an hour. The problem is that since it is replaced from the front, the mechanic will scribe a mark for the nut to mark where it is so he can re-use the existing crush sleeve.

If he overtightens it, he will goof the sleeve and although the pinion is no longer leaking, you've got too much preload on the rest of the stuff inside, which **WILL** cause the rear to blow out. (guess how I know?)

You can't replace the crush sleeve from the front, and they won't do it from the back because it means taking everything out, and resetting it (means you pay for rear end rebuild time). So, as long as he nails the nut exactly where it was, there is no problem. But, if he gets it too tight, then your rear end will go out.

They overtorqued mine and within a week my rear end blew out at 65 MPH on the interstate. Not fun. But, it was an excuse to upgrade to a 4.11 gear set.

www.BlackWS6.com .... look for the Pictures page and take a look at what was left of my rear diff.

 

My '98 Z went out @ 6000 miles. Took to Chev in Cheyenne and had a go about it. But in the end, after they had it for 2 days it was fixed. My ex traded it for an S10 at 45000. Never had another problem with it. But oh how I miss her (the Z of course)!

 

I talked to a dude today who sounded like he knew his stuff. He said the pinion seal is supposed to leak a little bit and can't be completly sealed. I mean my seal isn't leaving anything on the ground or anything but it is all over the rear diff. Anyone know more about this?

 

it shouldnt be seeping at all.its not a big deal but it should not leak.i had my pinion seal replaced 3 or 4 times under warranty before it stopped leaking finally.once i brought it to my serv. mngrs. attention he had the tech add extra sealer to makeup for the housing not being true and its been fine.common problem too.

 

in all honesty i think i woulda shot the chick the second i heard she did that.......

 

Had mine replaced ~ 6000 miles as well. Does anyone know if the torque arm has to be removed to replace the pinion seal? The bolts on mine have come loose, and I was wondering if that might have been the cause.

 

my seal was leaking also at 24k miles took to dealer and they fixed it. i hear it is a problem on these later year f-bodys.
my car is still under warrenty so it was free

 

My rear and torque arm also have differential oil all over them. Surprise, surprise!!! Rear pinion seal leaking.

Maybe I'll get it replaced one of these days...

Due to the crush sleeve issue, I don't want to do it myself and after reading about the experiences people on different boards have had, I'm a bit vary to take it to a shop, too...

The shop I'm using has always been a good place, though, so I'm sure they'll do fine.

TS

 

In many case it is the pinion seal but don't over look the breather tube that's mounted on top of the differential , a friend of mine had oil all over his differential and it was the breather tube causing the problem not the pinion seal.

Al