'01 Camaro Pinion Seal- 2 options
06-12-2017, 09:37 AM
#1
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
'01 Camaro Pinion Seal- 2 options While I am doing my clutch I decided to do my pinion seal since it's been leaking for a while. I went to Advance to get the seal and they said there are 2 versions for my model year. An early production and a late production. My car was built in I think July 2000. I would assume it has the "early" production seal, but I am not for sure. The weird thing is I asked Auto Zone about the pinion seal and they only showed one listing.
We put one in about 35k miles ago on the last clutch swap and it's been leaking for a long time. I wonder if I bought it at Auto Zone and since they only have one available it was the wrong size and that's why it leaked?
We put one in about 35k miles ago on the last clutch swap and it's been leaking for a long time. I wonder if I bought it at Auto Zone and since they only have one available it was the wrong size and that's why it leaked?
06-12-2017, 12:08 PM
#3
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06-12-2017, 09:35 PM
#5
Changing the seal probably won't stop the leak. Usually it takes new pinion bearings and sealing the yoke to the pinion to stop them from leaking. The reason they leak is the pinion bearings have slight water damage from sitting, this causes the pinion to spin slightly off center enough to weep fluid past the seal. You can't imagine how many of these I've seen leaking from new.
06-13-2017, 07:08 PM
#6
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Changing the seal probably won't stop the leak. Usually it takes new pinion bearings and sealing the yoke to the pinion to stop them from leaking. The reason they leak is the pinion bearings have slight water damage from sitting, this causes the pinion to spin slightly off center enough to weep fluid past the seal. You can't imagine how many of these I've seen leaking from new.
I guess it's a common problem if you've seen a bunch. After reading your post I wonder if I should change it at all since I changed it about 35k miles ago and it appears it never quit leaking.
06-15-2017, 07:06 PM
#7
From sitting condensation water collects in the housing and gets mixed with the oil. If the car isn't driven until the rear gets warm enough to burn off the water you can guess the rest. Every time I changed a pinion seal on a rear with low mileage you know something isn't right. Most pinion seal last 100k without leaking, so you can bet some thing is wrong causing it to leak. You can try changing it once and sealing the yoke to the pinion<run a bead of good silicone sealant inside the yoke about 1/4 inch from the nut end. This will seal the pinion to the yoke from weeping. Another important setting is the pinion preload, needs to turn firm but not tight. If it still leaks you need to replace the races and bearings.
I seen the bearings pitted on very low mileage right from the factory. Cars that the dealers changed the pinion seals over and over but still leak. Pull um apart and the bearings have water damage marks all over them. For some reason its a very common thing with these cars. I've owned 6 99 up fbodies, only 1 didn't need pinion bearings. 5 had leaking pinion seals and the only way to stop them was replace the pinion bearings.
What's a little weird they don't look worn, just water marks all over them where you can see water damaged the races and bearing rollers. Local to me shop I called after changing the seal 3 times in the 1st car told me REPLACE THE PINION BEARINGS. I was a little skeptical but he was right on. Good Luck.
I also add 50% synthetic gear oil to help with the water damage from sitting, Straight regular oil and water= damage every time.
I seen the bearings pitted on very low mileage right from the factory. Cars that the dealers changed the pinion seals over and over but still leak. Pull um apart and the bearings have water damage marks all over them. For some reason its a very common thing with these cars. I've owned 6 99 up fbodies, only 1 didn't need pinion bearings. 5 had leaking pinion seals and the only way to stop them was replace the pinion bearings.
What's a little weird they don't look worn, just water marks all over them where you can see water damaged the races and bearing rollers. Local to me shop I called after changing the seal 3 times in the 1st car told me REPLACE THE PINION BEARINGS. I was a little skeptical but he was right on. Good Luck.
I also add 50% synthetic gear oil to help with the water damage from sitting, Straight regular oil and water= damage every time.
Trending Topics
06-18-2017, 10:49 AM
#8
On The Tree
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From sitting condensation water collects in the housing and gets mixed with the oil. If the car isn't driven until the rear gets warm enough to burn off the water you can guess the rest. Every time I changed a pinion seal on a rear with low mileage you know something isn't right. Most pinion seal last 100k without leaking, so you can bet some thing is wrong causing it to leak. You can try changing it once and sealing the yoke to the pinion<run a bead of good silicone sealant inside the yoke about 1/4 inch from the nut end. This will seal the pinion to the yoke from weeping. Another important setting is the pinion preload, needs to turn firm but not tight. If it still leaks you need to replace the races and bearings.
I seen the bearings pitted on very low mileage right from the factory. Cars that the dealers changed the pinion seals over and over but still leak. Pull um apart and the bearings have water damage marks all over them. For some reason its a very common thing with these cars. I've owned 6 99 up fbodies, only 1 didn't need pinion bearings. 5 had leaking pinion seals and the only way to stop them was replace the pinion bearings.
What's a little weird they don't look worn, just water marks all over them where you can see water damaged the races and bearing rollers. Local to me shop I called after changing the seal 3 times in the 1st car told me REPLACE THE PINION BEARINGS. I was a little skeptical but he was right on. Good Luck.
I also add 50% synthetic gear oil to help with the water damage from sitting, Straight regular oil and water= damage every time.
I seen the bearings pitted on very low mileage right from the factory. Cars that the dealers changed the pinion seals over and over but still leak. Pull um apart and the bearings have water damage marks all over them. For some reason its a very common thing with these cars. I've owned 6 99 up fbodies, only 1 didn't need pinion bearings. 5 had leaking pinion seals and the only way to stop them was replace the pinion bearings.
What's a little weird they don't look worn, just water marks all over them where you can see water damaged the races and bearing rollers. Local to me shop I called after changing the seal 3 times in the 1st car told me REPLACE THE PINION BEARINGS. I was a little skeptical but he was right on. Good Luck.
I also add 50% synthetic gear oil to help with the water damage from sitting, Straight regular oil and water= damage every time.