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#623072 - 11/07/09 12:40 PM Replace rear differential gasket?
zschicago Offline
Freshman Member

Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 10
Loc: chicago
My rear diff is leaking. Whats it take to replace? Trying to decide if I should take it to a shop instead of doing myself. cheers,

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#623113 - 11/07/09 05:29 PM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: zschicago]
TOC Offline

Silver Member
Jedi Warrior

Registered: 06/17/08
Posts: 493
Loc: Kirkland, Wash., USA
Boy, rear diffs are very difficult to fix.
Front ones are real easy on these cars, however.
Too bad it's not the front one.

You sure it's the gasket and not the pinion seal?

Been a lotta years since I did one, but it's a drop out third member isn't it?

You have to pull the wheels, pull the axle shafts, drop the driveshaft, unbolt the thrid member, drop it out the front.

Usually it's the pinion seal, but if you think it's the gasket, that's what you have to do.

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#623151 - 11/07/09 08:07 PM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: zschicago]
Michael Oritt Offline

Silver Member
Jedi Knight

Registered: 06/28/01
Posts: 1406
Loc: Solomons, MD, USA
Zs--

Where exactly is it leaking? If it is at the pinion seal you can repair that without pulling the differential unit by picking the seal out from the front.

If it is leaking from around the flange of the differential unit perhaps you will only need to replace the paper gasket and torque down all the nuts evenly. Maybe it is just the drain plug?

Or is it leaking from somewhere out toward the hubs--a whole nother experience.

It is not hard to isolate and accurately locate the source of the leak. Come back to us with more information and we'll take it from there.
_________________________
Best--Michael Oritt, 1955 AH 100 Le Mans, 1960 AH 3000, 1958 Elva Courier

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#623231 - 11/08/09 10:23 AM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: Michael Oritt]
tahoe healey Offline
Obi Wan

Registered: 08/09/02
Posts: 2182
Loc: South Lake Tahoe, CA
I suppose you could spray with the athletes foot spray and look for track as with the engine.

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#623233 - 11/08/09 10:51 AM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: tahoe healey]
TimK Offline

Jedi Trainee

Registered: 05/17/08
Posts: 264
Loc: Michigan
I would be really happy if the only leak I had was the differential. Mine doesn't leak, but everything else does -- transmission, rear main, front seal, steering gear, etc.
_________________________
Tim K.
1960 3000 BN7 (owned since 1981)
1973 Yamaha TX500 (Owned since new -- 11,000 lifetime miles)

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#623394 - 11/08/09 10:15 PM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: TimK]
tahoe healey Offline
Obi Wan

Registered: 08/09/02
Posts: 2182
Loc: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Maybe its empty.

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#623403 - 11/08/09 11:57 PM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: tahoe healey]
zschicago Offline
Freshman Member

Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 10
Loc: chicago
You guys got me thinking. I really didnt notice a leak until after I replaced the oil in the diff a few months ago. It could be the drain plug. I didnt have the correct tool for that square plug. So I improvised. Any idea where I can get that correct tool? cheers, Zane

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#623481 - 11/09/09 11:08 AM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: zschicago]
Bob_Spidell Offline
Jedi Hopeful

Registered: 02/25/07
Posts: 155
Loc: California USA
Originally Posted By: zschicago
Any idea where I can get that correct tool?


Buy a cheap 3/8" to 1/2" socket adpter (3/8 on the wrench side, 1/2 on the socket side) and grind the 1/2 inch male part to fit.

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#623501 - 11/09/09 01:33 PM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: zschicago]
Michael Oritt Offline

Silver Member
Jedi Knight

Registered: 06/28/01
Posts: 1406
Loc: Solomons, MD, USA
Sounds like you need a smoke wrench.
_________________________
Best--Michael Oritt, 1955 AH 100 Le Mans, 1960 AH 3000, 1958 Elva Courier

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#623514 - 11/09/09 02:23 PM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: Michael Oritt]
GregW Online   content

Silver Member
Yoda

Registered: 01/03/05
Posts: 5096
Loc: Santa Monica, CA
Another option would be cutting a piece of 7/16" square bar and putting it in a 7/16" 8 point socket. This one is for a 1/2" ratchet.


Attachments
CIMG3156.jpg


_________________________

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#623731 - 11/10/09 12:42 PM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: GregW]
zschicago Offline
Freshman Member

Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 10
Loc: chicago
Is 7/16 the size needed?

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#623753 - 11/10/09 02:05 PM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: zschicago]
TOC Offline

Silver Member
Jedi Warrior

Registered: 06/17/08
Posts: 493
Loc: Kirkland, Wash., USA
If I recall, 'tis.

If you have the ability......find a piece of 7/16" square stock about, oh, 12-14" long.
Clamp about 1.5 to 2" in a vise, heat it cherry red with an oxy-acetylene torch, BEND the long part to 90 degrees, let it cool, de-burr the edges, and you now have a tool you can keep in your toolkit.

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#623764 - 11/10/09 03:09 PM Re: Replace rear differential gasket? [Re: TOC]
Michael Oritt Offline

Silver Member
Jedi Knight

Registered: 06/28/01
Posts: 1406
Loc: Solomons, MD, USA
You can also use a 19 mm 12 point socket to remove a 1/2" square fill plug--I just did it today when I changed my diff oil.
_________________________
Best--Michael Oritt, 1955 AH 100 Le Mans, 1960 AH 3000, 1958 Elva Courier

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