Leaky front diff

[Charlton Lafitte]

Long story short, my front diff has leaked a tiny amount on and off for years in extreme heat or cold. Now it leaks about a silver dollar size puddle daily. Im looking to avoid going to the shop for this. How easy/difficult is it to top off the diff fluid? Hopefully dropping the skid plate is the most painful part of the process.

This is on a 98 cruiser with 284k.

 

[slimbuddha]

Changing the fluid is easy, just look through the FAQ for the links to those. I would highly recommend before you do it, you order the new style plug. I realized they were going to strip getting them out when I first started trying to take them off, so I stopped, and ordered the new plugs before I did the job.

Are you positive it is the diff though?

 

[duggy]

Don't let the diff run dry. It only holds 1.8qts

 

[Charlton Lafitte]

Changing the fluid is easy, just look through the FAQ for the links to those. I would highly recommend before you do it, you order the new style plug. I realized they were going to strip getting them out when I first started trying to take them off, so I stopped, and ordered the new plugs before I did the job.

Are you positive it is the diff though?

Upon further investigation it appears to be the power steering is leaking onto the differential and onto the ground.

 

[slimbuddha]

Upon further investigation it appears to be the power steering is leaking onto the differential and onto the ground.

That is in the FAQ's too... and after I changed the fluids, it felt sooooo much smoother.

 

[Charlton Lafitte]

That is in the FAQ's too... and after I changed the fluids, it felt sooooo much smoother.

much appreciated, my ps has been on its way out for some time, probably gonna limp it along til the end of summer and hopefully replace.

 

[2001LC]

PS power steering leak is often the hoses at the reservoir. Re-clamping with screw type may help.