Rear Diff Leak
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NE Kansas
Rear Diff Leak
I noticed a cup or so of fluid on the slab below the rear diff. It's happened a couple of times now. I have yet to look into exactly where it's coming from but from a quick glance it seems to be the bottom 1/2. In mid June we hit a dear and have yet to get the damage repaired. The tran cooler and ac condensor seem to be OK though. Could the rear diff leak at all be related -- don't think so really , but asking. Is this maybe just a broken seal? Anything in particular I should look for?
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NE Kansas
It's about 1" below the fill plug. I need to add some. The books says synthetic 75W-140 plus an additive.
Where do I get the fluid? I have a NAPA closeby. Does it matter what brand? Since I don't know for sure what was in there, is there any harm in mixing? What about the additive?
Where do I get the fluid? I have a NAPA closeby. Does it matter what brand? Since I don't know for sure what was in there, is there any harm in mixing? What about the additive?
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NE Kansas
It appears to be a bad seal on the cover near the bottom just to the drivers side a bit. The pinion did leak when I bought it used in 2007. The mechanic replaced it then. It was still caked up around there, so tonight I scraped and cleaned the area off well. While there might be a very small leak coming from the pinion, there is a leak on the cover itself. I tried to back-out 2 of the closest bolt and re-tighten, but don't believe it helped (with a broken seal, don't believe it was going to, but worth a shot).
I'm an inch low on fluid. Should I add in the $20 Mobile 1 quart I just bought, or hold-off for a few days (need to drive about 25 miles to get that dear collision repair-work done) when I can pull the cover, reseal, and replace all the fluid?
I'm an inch low on fluid. Should I add in the $20 Mobile 1 quart I just bought, or hold-off for a few days (need to drive about 25 miles to get that dear collision repair-work done) when I can pull the cover, reseal, and replace all the fluid?
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Stevens Point, WI
My rear cover was leaking when I got my X. I've done many of them because of rust and just assumed thats what it was. Ordered my new aluminum cover and went to replace it.
Turns out the stock cover was just fine. At some point something hit the bottom of the rear end casting and dimpled the very edge of it pushing the rear end cover out just enough to make it leak. I filed it down and installed the new cover and its perfect. I used my old stock cover to replace another rusted out cover on one of our work trucks.
Turns out the stock cover was just fine. At some point something hit the bottom of the rear end casting and dimpled the very edge of it pushing the rear end cover out just enough to make it leak. I filed it down and installed the new cover and its perfect. I used my old stock cover to replace another rusted out cover on one of our work trucks.
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From: NE Kansas
That sounds like EXACTLY my case. I have a very small nick at the bottom, just to the driver's side. It looks like something caught that edge and managed to break the silicone seal. I picked up 4 Qts of Valvoline 75w140 LS today. I'm almost at 100K miles, so I guess it was due for a change.
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Stevens Point, WI
Yes bottom drivers side is where my nick was. If you look very closely at the pic you can see a very small dimple in the bottom of the diff toward the drivers side and then on the matting surface you can see the clean area that I filed.
Just pull the cover and start cleaning off the sealant with a razor. If there are any nicks you will find it right away when the razor catches.
Just pull the cover and start cleaning off the sealant with a razor. If there are any nicks you will find it right away when the razor catches.
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wyazel1
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May 13, 2007 10:55 PM
