Possible Seeping Pinion Oil Seal

[Musicman]

Hello to everyone.

I'm thinking my pinion oil seal may be seeping or leaking. I've been noticing a few drops of liquid on my garage floor shortly after I return from a drive. From where these drops are it seems that the only place the seep could be coming from would be at the rear of the axle housing close to where the pinion oil seal would be. It's not a big leak by any means, if fact, it's rather on the very light side. From the local topography it doesn't look like a very easy thing to get to the seal to replace it. It may be a better thing just to watch it and keep tabs on the oil level.

Has anyone out there ever done this r&r? I know my way around the car mechanically pretty well, but I think this is something I'd rather stay away from - at least for now.

What do you think? All wisdom is welcome.

 

[AltaKnight]

That's just your Triumph marking it's territory, mine seeps there and a few other spots also. Whilst not aestheticaly or environmentaly pleasing, it is a fact of life with these cars.
I just keep cleaning up after it, kind of like a dog or kid really. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Musicman]

Graham,

I laughed out loud when I read your post about my TR6 marking its territory. Have you ever had to top off the gear oil due to the slow leaking?

 

[AltaKnight]

That's a common phrase used on this board for minor leaks, sort of put's it in perspective, with the engineering designs of the time being somewhat primitive as far as fluid sealing. I've not had to refill so far, it's amazing that just a few drops can look like a tanker has run aground in your garage. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[Musicman]

That's good to know about you not having to do any refilling due the the seepage. In reality, if that's the only thing making deposits on my garage floor, I consider myself a very lucky guy!

 

[Andrew Mace]

The differential, should have a vent on top; in my TR250 spare parts catalog it is shown as being more or less on the upper right-hand side of the rear cover. It's really nothing more than a breather hole with a cotter pin in it. If this gets obstructed by caked-on oily dirt (and they usually do), pressure buildup can start to push the gear oil out from convenient spots such as the pinion oil seal. I can't guarantee this will totally eliminate a leak, but it's worth checking out and (if necessary) cleaning off that vent.

 

[philman]

My '76 fhc has a leaking inion seal. I drove from OKC through El Paso, LA, SF CA, home to Oregon and when I "topped off" it used somewhat less than 2 ounces. I haven't changed the pinion seal (even though I have one).