Rear diff leak?

[mtpktz.]

Hey guys,

I came home from work tonight to discover a huge puddle of oil underneath my rear diff. The entire backside of the undercarriage is covered in oil (ugh) and there is a burning smell. The car is a 96 SR5 5spd 4x4 with e-Locker. I can only assume this is a leaking diff (hopefully not completely dead).

Advice? Thoughts? I don't have pics because it's dark out but I will do my best to get some tomorrow.

 

[Singtoe]

I would guess that your axle housing has rusted through.

 

[mtpktz.]

Thanks for the input.

Here are some pics:

Oil is EVERYWHERE!

 

[Stick Figure]

Pics don't make it look too rusty, how are the studs that actually hold the third member in? Is there a gasket in place there, or silicone?

 

[JohnsD90]

Check your rear diff breather, if it is clogged it will make the rear diff have no vent so it will build up pressure, and with enough pressure built up it will push fluid out of the seals, and will continue to do so because of pressure.

 

[Toms97]

Id say that the breather clogged. From the photos it looks like the axle seals went out (gear oil on the tires spreading out from the center) and a leak in the center of the axle housing. The housing leak could either be the gasket for the third member or a hole in the housing from rust, only that housing doesn't look very rusty.

Just having trouble with the idea that it all went at once, never seen that before if that is what happened.

 

[Stick Figure]

I would guess it was recently apart (possibly replaced) since the housing has writing on it.

 

[Singtoe]

Yeah , uhm I comminented with out looking at any pictures.


Your pinion seal took a dump.

From the pictures, the pinion seal leaked bad and slung oil 360 degrees. It got the tires and the exhaust (thus the burning smell) .

Should be easy fix. Remove Pinion nut, flange, install new seal, re assemble.

 

[mtpktz.]

Thank you for all the quick responses guys!

Yeah , uhm I comminented with out looking at any pictures.


Your pinion seal too a dump.

From the pictures, the pinion seal leaked bad and slung oil 360 degrees. It got the tires and the exhaust (thus the burning smell) .

Should be easy fix. Remove Pinion nut, flange, install new seal, re assemble.

If this is the case, any idea what it'd cost to fix? I'd have to have somebody do it because I have absolutely no time (Full time student + Full time job).

Thanks again everybody.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Yeah , uhm I comminented with out looking at any pictures.


Your pinion seal took a dump.

From the pictures, the pinion seal leaked bad and slung oil 360 degrees. It got the tires and the exhaust (thus the burning smell) .

Should be easy fix. Remove Pinion nut, flange, install new seal, re assemble.

I agree with this. Iv'e seen rust leaks, axle seal leaks, and 3rd member seal leaks, and none of them sling oil all around like this; gotta be by a spinning component like the pinion gear.

I don't think it should be more than 2 hours labor or so. Just be sure to call around and get an idea of the cost from both dealerships and non-dealerships.

 

[mtpktz.]

I agree with this. Iv'e seen rust leaks, axle seal leaks, and 3rd member seal leaks, and none of them sling oil all around like this; gotta be by a spinning component like the pinion gear.

I don't think it should be more than 2 hours labor or so. Just be sure to call around and get an idea of the cost from both dealerships and non-dealerships.

Thank you for the advice and information.