Front Pass Side Diff Leak-help please!

[deepseajc]

Dealership replaced front diff carrier at 140k. Three trips for parts warranty work (oil seal) there is still a leak. Now they want a grand (not happening) to replace the drive axle and only offering this as a "maybe" to fix the leak. Drives great en lieu of the obvious.

Any advice is much appreciated. BTW, I have access to a lift and tools+ quite a few years of DIY experience.

-Jason

 

[Wilsil]

Still a seal leak?

 

[deepseajc]

That's what they are guessing. I think maybe the install is destroying the new seal.

 

[Wilsil]

That sounds like it.
I had a similar thing when I bought the car. The mechanic who has serviced the car for the previous owner had told him that there was a leak, most probably the drain plug.
When I checked under the car, the leak was coming from the passanger drive shaft, not the plug!
My mechanic replaced the seal and installed the E-locker for me.

 

[jemsec]

Little doubt the seal is leaking. Would suspect it's set too deep and will continue to leak until set correctly. The drive axle, cv joint, does not cause differential leaks unless the mechanic is damaging the seal when installing the axle.

Replaced mine two times until I realized it was being set too deep. Might consider getting the dealer GM involved as they seem to have made an error and don't want to own up. Only keep charging until they get it right.

Maybe contact one of the popular dealers active on here and ask how deep the seal should be placed.

 

[spressomon]

Related...this is DS but still might be useful to you: https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/687473-diff-tube-seal-part-number.html

Do you have photos of the leak area?

 

[deepseajc]

You guys are great. Thanks for the help. Quick update: Dealership says it's the sealing surface of the drive axle that is bad and that I need the axle replaced. I went there to take a look and asked what's wrong, because I saw nothing. He said the shaft was under-sized. You should have seen him squirm when I asked for a micrometer to measure and that I could find a comparison on here!

Out of desperation, I called Slee and asked for a non-obligatory opinion, to which he replied in short (you guessed it) improper seal install depth. I am nowhere ne'er those guys, but if I were, the would be the only ones touching my rig-well, other than myself, of course.

 

[2000UZJ]

There is a soft seal on the diff. It's easily damaged if you carelessly rip the CV out, or insert it crooked. There is only one axle that can fit in the 100 series. They are blowing smoke up your rear end. They don't see many of these trucks down there in FL, so they want to replace the entire assembly and put the money in their pockets rather than have a tech look at it for an hours.

 

[deepseajc]

You are dead on!

 

[Wilsil]

So I assume that it was the last time that dealer saw you in their shop.

 

[jemsec]

If you let these knuckle heads replace the axle again, and they do it the same way as before, it will leak and then what are they going to say and do?

Typical to blame the part rather than the inexperienced part changer.

 

[deepseajc]

Just realized you asked for a pic. Didn't think to take one, but it is isolated to 6 o'clock position on P/S of carrier.

 

[deepseajc]

Small update. The dealer's shop foreman was receptive to the "it was your lazy @$& technician's install causing the leak" plea. I asked that he, himself, utilizing the FSM procedure-install a new snap ring and new seal. He agreed and as a matter of fact, listed on the R/O: "deformed oil seal" as the mechanism for the leak. 2 days later, and K-O-W, no leak. BTW, all done under parts warranty; no charge.

 

[deepseajc]

No leaks after day 5!

 

[jemsec]