Front Diff Leaking? Check This Before Despairing
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Front Diff Leaking? Check This Before Despairing
Its a well known fact Leak Gremlins haunt Aerostars. Fix one thing and the LG's gleefully take up residence in another component. Most recently they caused my steering rack to begin leaking again -for the fifth time. I fixed that, so the following day, they moved over to the front differential. I had just rebuilt this not 2 years ago, but there it was, spotting the garage floor.
While under the van replacing the rack, I noticed the vent hose for the front axle had popped loose from its mounting hole in the axle. Its just a friction fit, so I gave it little thought and popped in back into place. (The more savvy members likely know where this is leading by now.)
That vent hose is there for a reason. Today, it dawned on me to check the end of the tubing to see if it were plugged. The end was open but the tubing was pinched flat where the spring clip secures the tubing to the crossmember. It has been there since the van was built. The tubing was hardened and brittle with age.
Heat builds up in the differential and the vent tube allows the fluid to expand. With the tubing pinched shut, the pressurized fluid finds the next point of least resistance to escape - around the pinion seal.
Tube open - leak gone.
While under the van replacing the rack, I noticed the vent hose for the front axle had popped loose from its mounting hole in the axle. Its just a friction fit, so I gave it little thought and popped in back into place. (The more savvy members likely know where this is leading by now.)
That vent hose is there for a reason. Today, it dawned on me to check the end of the tubing to see if it were plugged. The end was open but the tubing was pinched flat where the spring clip secures the tubing to the crossmember. It has been there since the van was built. The tubing was hardened and brittle with age.
Heat builds up in the differential and the vent tube allows the fluid to expand. With the tubing pinched shut, the pressurized fluid finds the next point of least resistance to escape - around the pinion seal.
Tube open - leak gone.
