*I keep getting random forum database errors, so I'll try this for a THIRD time. I can't even reply to my original thread so please delete it. Here's my original post:


Today I noticed 2 drops of oil which I presume came from my rear differential on my garage floor. I'm going to see if it drips any more overnight and if it does I'll have it taken in to get it fixed. I've read the most common thing with the rear end is that the pinion seal leaks. Everyone says "as long as it doesn't drip onto the ground don't worry if it leaks a bit" but mine did drip to the ground so I guess I should be concerned?

My question is how much does the rear pinion seal cost, and approximately how much labor cost am I looking at--1 hour? 2? Thanks.

 

Make sure it's not the cover before you take it somewhere. Look at rear and see exactly where drops are coming from. If it's toward the driveshaft then it will be the pinion seal.

 

ive had a pinoion seal go before, there was oil on the torque arm mount too on the rear, if thats the case then it is and they're usually about 2 hrs or so of labor and then the part which isnt much

 

After all the posts here about ruined pinion bearings and/or noises from the diff following a pinion seal replacement, my recommendation is to keep an eye on it and top off the fluid every week/month (depending on how much leaks out) rather than take the risk of the shop screwing up the pinion bearing preload just to replace that pinion seal. If you diff if running fine otherwise, don't mess with it. How many quarts of diff fluid could you buy for the cost of a pinion seal (let alone a pinion bearing) replacement?

OTOH, if you already have problems w/ the diff (noises, posi worn out), then a complete rebuild / replacement would be worth it.

 

I checked it again this morning. The car sat overnight from about 6pm to 11am this morning, so 17 hours. And there wasn't a single drop under the car.


Here's something I was thinking about--on Friday night it had rained and the roads were still a little bit wet, and pulling into my edition I was with a friend and he told me to get on it a little. I did and of course it just spun the tires for about 2-3 seconds and then I let off. Could that have anything to do with it? I never do burnouts or anything else that would tear up the rear end, and that was about the only time I've ever spun my tires for more than a split second or so.

 

not sure man but when i had to replace mine it was a small puddle underneath and not just a few drops and thats why mine was replaced, that and the shop who put in the gears fucked up so they did it for free

 

Thanks, I will just keep checking it and if I see more drops I'll try to look for the source. Maybe it was just some weird one-time thing.