odd leak, rear axle

[JoeliusZ28]

Ok, this past weekend I went home and was tinkering around the garage and noticed my car had a small puddle of fluid under it, near the rear axle. (its been sitting there in one place since mid-september). I got under the car and checked it out, and i can say that it is definitely be coming from the rear end, but not where i would have expected... The entire u-joint assembly ahead of the pig was basically wet, and it was where the car had been dripping from. However, the pinion seal and the axle pig was 100% dry.... Normally when I have seen an axle leak from this area, it seaps out at the seal and it drips from the pig. Not the case however, It looked as though fluid was dripped on the u-joint from above, which obviously did not happen so it looks like the fluid must be exiting through the pinion/yoke itself. Would thread sealant on the yoke nut have made the difference? Ive never seen a leak like this before.

I mentioned it my dad, he crawled under the car and had the same reaction as me ('what the hell?'). Also my car has a relatively fresh pinion seal - i replaced it a year or two ago and installed it properly using a soft piece of wood and gentle taps with a hammer. Never noticed any leaks before until now. Its an extremely slow/minor leak but id like to fix it anyway.

I dont have any pictures, i forgot to take my camera home.

ideas/suggestions?

[Kwazrollinz28]

my axle ends are leaking and the part that the drive shaft bolts to.

I guess it just happens.

[JoeliusZ28]

yea thats the yoke... ok maybe this isnt as bizarre as i thought?

[Kwazrollinz28]

brians did it to before his v8 swap.

[meissen]

This is what mine looked like:


No matter what - definitely fix it now before you drive it. My leak was flung all over the place under the car and I had nastiness under there.

[1BADAIR]

spline leaks are common. most put rtv on the splines inside the yoke

[98blackbeauty]

Maybe a cat got under there laid on his back and peed upward!
Seriously if it was the splines leaking, I was thinking the rear had + 2 degrees upward angle. So just sitting there one would think there would not be a puddle. Did you use the right weight grease in rear?

[1BADAIR]

pinion angle should be down, not up. that angle isn't in relation to the ground though.

[JoeliusZ28]

there is barely anything on the ground. smaller than the palm of a hand.

Sounds like i get to take the spline apart, OK!

[md80zdriver]

When you did the pinion seal. Did you check the pinion bearings for slop or play. That's where my leak came from.

[JoeliusZ28]

i thought those were behind the seal??

[md80zdriver]

Yeah brain fart on my part. My leak was small too. When we pulled the seal, we found some slop in pinion bearing. So now it's time to have the bearings replaced. I'm probably going to put a 3.73 pinion and ring gear in it. While it's apart.

Rick

[JoeliusZ28]

ah gotcha. i dont remember checking mine specifically, but idve probably noticed if there was. good luck with the 3.73s!

[nascarnate326]

So add another one to "the list"

and done feel bad, mine leaks too, must be making massive amounds of TQ's.