TowDawg
Enthusiast
I've got a problem that's been driving me crazy, and after talking with some people this past weekend at RA, it might be my half-shaft that's the problem.
My axle seal on the passenger side of my diff has been leaking since towards the end of last year. While I was getting the tranny replaced, I had Brian go ahead and fix the seal. He put a new one in, I barely drove the car on the street and then went to a track day. After the first session, it was already leaking some. I was able to keep running because it wasn't pouring out or anything. It was just blowing and spattering on the rear diffuser and bumper and wasn't in danger of running too low on fluid. Obviously it still bugged me though since I just had it replaced.
Fast forward to this past weekend. I took the car back to Brian the week before this past RA trip, and he replaced the seal again. He said he couldn't see anything wrong with the seal he replaced, but put the new one in anyway. I drove a little on the street before I loaded up and headed to the track, and then after the first session, I had the spatters of diff fluid coming from the same seal!
This is getting really damn annoying, especially since the seal on the driver's side hasn't been touched and is as dry as a bone.
I talked to some people at the track about it, and got the opinion that it was possible that the splines on that half-shaft are slightly worn and the fluid could be getting out that way. Especially since the seal that was just replaced didn't appear to have anything wrong with it, and there isn't type of noise or vibration to indicate the half-shaft itself is damaged/bent or anything.
I have no clue how to tell if the splines are a little worn by looking at it, and I don't feel like taking it apart without one to replace it with while it's apart. If I can find someone who may have upgraded to aftermarket shafts and has a stocker laying around that I can get for cheap, I may go ahead and get it, so I can give it a shot.
I also welcome additional opinions from people with more experience than me in this area. I just want to be able to take the car out and not have the rear of it covered in diff fluid.
My axle seal on the passenger side of my diff has been leaking since towards the end of last year. While I was getting the tranny replaced, I had Brian go ahead and fix the seal. He put a new one in, I barely drove the car on the street and then went to a track day. After the first session, it was already leaking some. I was able to keep running because it wasn't pouring out or anything. It was just blowing and spattering on the rear diffuser and bumper and wasn't in danger of running too low on fluid. Obviously it still bugged me though since I just had it replaced.
Fast forward to this past weekend. I took the car back to Brian the week before this past RA trip, and he replaced the seal again. He said he couldn't see anything wrong with the seal he replaced, but put the new one in anyway. I drove a little on the street before I loaded up and headed to the track, and then after the first session, I had the spatters of diff fluid coming from the same seal!
This is getting really damn annoying, especially since the seal on the driver's side hasn't been touched and is as dry as a bone.
I talked to some people at the track about it, and got the opinion that it was possible that the splines on that half-shaft are slightly worn and the fluid could be getting out that way. Especially since the seal that was just replaced didn't appear to have anything wrong with it, and there isn't type of noise or vibration to indicate the half-shaft itself is damaged/bent or anything.
I have no clue how to tell if the splines are a little worn by looking at it, and I don't feel like taking it apart without one to replace it with while it's apart. If I can find someone who may have upgraded to aftermarket shafts and has a stocker laying around that I can get for cheap, I may go ahead and get it, so I can give it a shot.
I also welcome additional opinions from people with more experience than me in this area. I just want to be able to take the car out and not have the rear of it covered in diff fluid.