Rear Differential Leak?

[res0n0xg]

Never really dealt with it on my car, until today after a short drive to the post office I'm coming back from getting my mail and I see decent amount of what looks to be oil underneath the back/middle of my car, right between my two SLP mufflers.

I reached under and took a quick swipe, definitely oil.... has to be the differential fluid correct?


What's the best way to re-seal it if so?

 

[DE07GT]

You should be able to tell if it's gear oil by the smell. Very distinct.

 

[jtm]

cover needs to be removed and resealed. fresh fluid and your good to go. i did three reseals on mine and some friends cars without removing the diff, but others on here recommend to remove diff first.

 

[Ralo]

I need to reseal mine but I'm not sure if I'm ready to tackle it yet.

 

[Double"O"]

be sure it isn't the pinion seal...i have that problem with mine right now

 

[BlckBox04]

they all do this. mine is getting really bad and the rear is humming but i dont really care too much at the moment.

 

[Double"O"]

^^^ Lol mine too!

 

[Terminator-Fox]

Mine seeps a little too. I do have a warranty from Ford on it right now. Should I take it back to get resealed?

 

[res0n0xg]

This is the first time I've noticed that much fluid honestly, how hard is it to reseal? Can I do it with a couple jacks and jack stands? Honestly i didn't smell it that closely, but from what I said, it has to be the rear diff right??

 

[Hmbre97]

be sure it isn't the pinion seal...i have that problem with mine right now

This. The oil runs down the case and makes it appear to be the cover leaking but it may not be.

 

[Booky]

Mine was leaking a little on my garage floor.

It is hard to describe but it definitely smelled different and looked like black oil in the middle, but a clearer thick greasy substance around the black part.

I took mine in and the warranty covered everything. The dealership told me that they had to remove it to reseal it and they used a better sealant then what was originally in there. So far so good.:-D

 

[BOLT330]

I have this leak also...

 

[T-Pain808]

Gear oil sticks to hell, just put a piece of paper under the dif, thats how I found out for sure.

 

[res0n0xg]

it's gotta be the differential, it does smell very odd, that's for damn sure. I didn't get all the way under the car, but I see some splatter on my exhaust from where it looks like it has dripped a little on it and the diff itself looks pretty grungy.


Has anyone actually resealed their own? How hard is the job??

 

[cbr repsol]

check the bolts first ,my friends 03 was leaking really bad. all of the lower cover bolts were loose. we tightened them up and it stoped leaking ,dont forget to top off with fluid.

 

[P49Y-CY]

it's gotta be the differential, it does smell very odd, that's for damn sure. I didn't get all the way under the car, but I see some splatter on my exhaust from where it looks like it has dripped a little on it and the diff itself looks pretty grungy.


Has anyone actually resealed their own? How hard is the job??

this is a very common problem with our cars, and yes many folks have had to reseal the differential cover.

there are many good write ups on this board :beer:

 

[timspony]

One leaks a touch...one dry!

 

[res0n0xg]

this is a very common problem with our cars, and yes many folks have had to reseal the differential cover.

there are many good write ups on this board :beer:

I must be terrible at searching, do you have a link?

 

[res0n0xg]

Any guides out there? I just called a local shop, and they quoted me 6 hours of labor for the diff re-seal saying that because I have an IRS you have to remove some of it to get to the diff?

6 labor hours seems like a ****ing insane amount....

 

[92 Couper]

Mine was leaking, I pulled out the diff and resealed it when I was doing the Billetflow brace and MM diff bushings. Not hard but time comsuming. I used a gasket in mine (from the thunderbird SC diff) along with ultra gray and filled her up with fresh synthetic and friction modifier, I probably had 6 hours in the job by the time I was done.