How to Supervene upon a Leaking Rear Axle Pinion Seal
When a vehicle is driven regularly, rarely is information technology in i spot long enough to detect more than an occasional driveline fluid drip. And then, unless something beneath necessitates crawling under to repair, the undercarriage is generally an out-of-sight-out-of-mind scenario. Simply when that vehicle sets for an extended period and it leaves behind a sizeable puddle practise we call back to take a closer look.
That explains the situation we were thrown into with our well-used 1999 Firebird Trans Am. Every bit the Nebraska wintertime took hold, nosotros parked the vehicle for the season and it sat dormant for a couple of months. Upon waking the Firebird from its hibernation on the offset warm and sunny March day, we backed it from the garage simply to find that information technology left a blackness splotch on the floor. It was and so that nosotros knew we had a projection on our hands.
The fourth-generation F-body is equipped with GM's vii.5-inch 10-bolt rear axle. It uses a rubber lip-blazon seal to keep gear lube from slipping past the pinion flange during normal functioning. As miles accumulate and years pass, the rubber inside the seal has a tendency to compress upwardly and/or crack, leading to a fluid leak. An unattended leak can eventually reduce lubricant level within the differential plenty that internal damage tin can occur. Nosotros certainly didn't desire that.
Fortunately, replacing a pinion seal isn't a difficult chore and in that location are a diverseness of methods to successfully achieve that. Our preferred method happens to be the aforementioned procedure that GM outlines in its 1999 F-trunk Service Manual. Like GM, we, too, must caution that the relationship of the pinion gear, pinion flange, and retaining nut must exist exactly maintained and so that pinion bearing preload isn't altered. Pinion bearing impairment tin otherwise effect, and that could ultimately require complete differential teardown.
Seeking to avoid any consequences, we carefully tackled our project ane weekend forenoon and had Firebird dorsum on the road in simply a couple of hours. Here's how.
Upon backing our Firebird from the garage later on several months of hibernating during the Nebraska wintertime, the ominous puddle on the physical had usa very concerned. A closer inspection revealed nix more than a leaky pinion seal.
A trip to our local parts store yielded a National Oil Seal number-8610 pinion seal for less than $15. Later quaternary-generation F-body differentials were equipped with a multi-role seal. Be sure to use the correct replacement for your item application.
We used a four-mail service elevator for our projection, merely the same can be accomplished using a high-quality jack stands. Although non totally required, we removed the torque arm from the differential housing to proceeds additional clearance effectually the pinion. We used a 21 mm wrenches to agree the bolt and remove the nut. We then raised the trunk loftier enough to extract the bolts from the tiptop and shifted the torque arm to the side.
An 11 mm wrench was used to remove the four bolts that secure the driveshaft to the pinion flange. It may be necessary to reposition the pinion flange to gain equal admission to all iv bolts. Should that be the case, the rear tires must be free to rotate and the manual shifter must exist in the Neutral position. If your front tires remain on the basis, be sure to cake both sides of the front end tire to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
We slid the driveshaft forward to undo the u-articulation from the pinion flange. The driveshaft slip yoke then slid off the transmission's output shaft. Transmission fluid will run out, so have a catch pan and tail shaft plug set. Nosotros sourced a soft plastic plug from a local transmission rebuilder for a couple of dollars. A used slip yoke can work just as well.
Kent-Moore makes an splendid tool (J-8614) specifically designed for pinion flange removal, and we happen to have one. A big pipe wrench can also be used. To avoid altering pinion bearing preload during reinstallation, we used a small punch to mark the pinion, pinion flange, and pinion nut. We carefully counted the number of turns required to remove the nut. While an bear upon wrench can be used on this stride, we opted for a very long breaker bar for precision.
The Kent-Moore tool doubles every bit a pinion puller, but any high-quality puller tin can be made to work. Your local parts shop tin can likely loan i to you as well. Take a catch pan handy should whatever gear oil baste out.
With the pinion flange removed, information technology's quite obvious to run across that the original seal had lost its effectiveness. This is to exist expected considering that our Firebird is nearing 20 years old and approaching the 100,000-mile marker.
We cleaned the area around the seal using a rag soaked in mineral spirits. We and so pried the original seal from the differential housing using a large screwdriver beneath the lip.
The one-time seal simply lifts away.
After thoroughly wiping the flange area once more to remove all traces of debris, we ready the new seal into place. Nosotros recommend lightly coating the rubber with gear lube or bearing grease to ease pinion flange installation.
Nosotros used a pocket-sized hammer to lightly tap the new seal into place.
Walking the hammer effectually the circumference of the seal ensures that it's concentrically seated.
The pinion flange was inserted onto the pinion, ensuring that our marks were aligned. We and so installed the thick washer and threaded the pinion nut onto the pinion.
Using the Kent Moore tool (removed hither for photo clarity), the pinion nut was carefully tightened the same number of turns it took to remove information technology. Once we got close, we kept inspecting our progress to ensure that our marks were perfectly aligned. GM recommends taking i/xvi-inch by that (tighter) to restore original pinion bearing preload settings.
With the pinion flange securely fastened, nosotros reinstalled the driveshaft, reattached the torque arm, checked fluid level in the differential and transmission and added as necessary, and took our Firebird out for a examination drive. A post-repair inspection revealed no farther leakage. Success!
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