differential leaking

Divrdown · 06-15-2018, 07:53 PM

Checking to see if I can get some info on this issue here in main section.

I posted this on another topic but this took care of the issue for me. As noted I only got the burning smell when I stopped or when I was backing up.

OK I just went out and jacked up the car to check the rear differential as there are cooling lines going to and from it and thought it may be leaking. I found that where the differential is mounted using bushings towards the front of the car there is fluid all around them. This fluid is then dripping down onto the exhaust just enough to leave a stain where its burning off.
The bushing is just a rubber or polyurethane bushing inside the cast housing and of course there are no fittings. Does anyone know if these are supposed to be filled / sealed with grease? Or are they just greased up to allow installation? I went ahead and cleaned all of the run off with a cleaner to see if this cures the burning smell. I attached a couple of pictures to show the parts.

update 06-14-2018
Changed the fluid in the differential today. Found that there is still fluid seeping out from around the mounting bushings I pictured above in the older post. It does not appear to be leaking at any of the lines.

Any ideas where this could be coming from? I cleaned it all up again and there is just a trace of the fluid around the bushings again, enough to run down onto the exhaust. It smells like the gear oil but unless there is breather vent on top of the differential then I can not find a source for the fluid. Any ideas?

JCunningham · 06-15-2018, 09:10 PM

should be covered under warranty

Divrdown · 06-15-2018, 10:07 PM

Trying to figure this out and avoid the dealer if its something I can fix myself. Local dealer was not able to lift the car properly for the first oil change I had to set up the lift! If its something major then I will go to a different dealer.

camaro5 · 06-15-2018, 11:14 PM

Probably the pinion seal. Visual inspection on a lift is required.

Try to get the dealer to use the alignment rack to lift the car for inspection.

Divrdown · 06-16-2018, 06:33 AM

Thanks I will get that checked.

Divrdown · 06-16-2018, 03:45 PM

OK for anyone that has done this or had this done does the exhaust have to be dropped to replace the pinion seal? Or is there room to get the driveshaft unbolted and moved over enough to get the old one out and new one put in??
thanks

dpevans · 06-16-2018, 09:21 PM

Pretty sure I would be having the dealer fix this. Being under warranty you might have bigger problems. Father in law had a pick up and after being in the shop numerous times for a diff leak GM finally replaced the whole rear end.

Divrdown · 06-17-2018, 09:56 AM

Yes it will be going to the dealer, was just curious if the exhaust will have to come out. Its pretty tight around the driveshaft bolts and the seal. Wonder what GM specs the job out for time wise on the warranty? That would give me a better idea on what has to be done. Oh well will be calling the dealer Monday to try and get it in the shop.

SC88 · 06-17-2018, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divrdown

Yes it will be going to the dealer, was just curious if the exhaust will have to come out. Its pretty tight around the driveshaft bolts and the seal. Wonder what GM specs the job out for time wise on the warranty? That would give me a better idea on what has to be done. Oh well will be calling the dealer Monday to try and get it in the shop.

Yes the Exhaust will have to come down to remove the drive shaft to replace the pinion seal.

Inthepasture · 06-22-2018, 11:33 AM

Divr, what did the dealer say. My car has the exact same problem. Going to the dealer today. I see this problem from other members over the past 1.5 years. James

Inthepasture · 06-22-2018, 11:35 AM

Divr, what did the dealer say? My car at 15k miles has the same problem. I have changed the diff fluid at 1500 and the dealer did at 11200. James

one R · 06-29-2018, 09:01 AM

If you go into the drive line section I had posted some decent pics of what mine looked like with its leak from the seal failure.

Divrdown · 06-29-2018, 09:35 AM

Yes the seal was failing allowing the fluid to seep out and get onto everything and the wind from driving pushed it back and up and eventually dripped onto the exhaust. Hard to see it actually coming past the dust cap.
Got it fixed last week and all seems to be OK. I have cleaned the area up so I can watch it to make sure it was just the seal and hopefully not an issue with the casting.
Took the dealer about half a day to do it. The exhaust does have to come down and the driveshaft also. My car has the ground effects package so it was an issue dropping the exhaust. My dealer is pretty small and they had never worked on 6th gen much so this was all new to them which made it take longer. Job does require a GM tool to pull the snap ring type seal.

CUPRA · 11-12-2018, 01:23 PM

I have my car in at the dealership right now for this as well.

Noticed drips on my garage floor a couple of weeks ago, which was odd. Placed some cardboard under there to confirm it was leaking, it was, not bad, about one drop per night so took it to the dealership for it's first oil change and mentioned the leak as well.

They have pinpointed it to the pinion seal, but they are backed up with work, so it might be a couple of days before they are able to get to it. Fingers crossed it's not too long.

06-15-2018, 07:53 PM	#1
Divrdown Drives: 2017 2SS Hyper Blue Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Moundsville WV Posts: 139	differential leaking Checking to see if I can get some info on this issue here in main section. I posted this on another topic but this took care of the issue for me. As noted I only got the burning smell when I stopped or when I was backing up. OK I just went out and jacked up the car to check the rear differential as there are cooling lines going to and from it and thought it may be leaking. I found that where the differential is mounted using bushings towards the front of the car there is fluid all around them. This fluid is then dripping down onto the exhaust just enough to leave a stain where its burning off. The bushing is just a rubber or polyurethane bushing inside the cast housing and of course there are no fittings. Does anyone know if these are supposed to be filled / sealed with grease? Or are they just greased up to allow installation? I went ahead and cleaned all of the run off with a cleaner to see if this cures the burning smell. I attached a couple of pictures to show the parts. update 06-14-2018 Changed the fluid in the differential today. Found that there is still fluid seeping out from around the mounting bushings I pictured above in the older post. It does not appear to be leaking at any of the lines. Any ideas where this could be coming from? I cleaned it all up again and there is just a trace of the fluid around the bushings again, enough to run down onto the exhaust. It smells like the gear oil but unless there is breather vent on top of the differential then I can not find a source for the fluid. Any ideas? Attached Images

06-15-2018, 09:10 PM	#2
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,071	should be covered under warranty __________________ real ZL1 wheels and brakes, 285/305 Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Pray ported Intake manifold, Soler Throttle Body, Rotofab intake, EFI Tuning Flex fuel kit, full American Racing Headers Exhaust, 1 7/8" w/ cats H pipe and mufflers. Full 1LE suspension, with BMR adjustable sway bars and links, GM aluminum cradle bushings, Hurst shifter with lighter reverse spring, TWM shifter knob, Tick level 1 transmission. I should have bought a ZL1

06-15-2018, 11:14 PM	#4
camaro5 Drives: X-15 Velocipede Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,637	Probably the pinion seal. Visual inspection on a lift is required. Try to get the dealer to use the alignment rack to lift the car for inspection. __________________ Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge General Motors ASEP, A.S. Automotive Technology, Telecommunications Specialist, CISCO Network Engineer STANDARD DISCLAIMER camaro5 is furnishing this information "as is". camaro5 does not provide any warranty of the information whatsoever, whether express, implied, or statutory, including, but not limited to, any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or any warranty that the contents of the information will be error-free.

11-12-2018, 01:23 PM	#14
CUPRA Drives: '21 Bronco OBX/'18 Jeep GC Altitude Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 1,413 View My Garage	I have my car in at the dealership right now for this as well. Noticed drips on my garage floor a couple of weeks ago, which was odd. Placed some cardboard under there to confirm it was leaking, it was, not bad, about one drop per night so took it to the dealership for it's first oil change and mentioned the leak as well. They have pinpointed it to the pinion seal, but they are backed up with work, so it might be a couple of days before they are able to get to it. Fingers crossed it's not too long. __________________ Order Placed: 04/30/22 Order Accepted: 10/18/22 TPW: 11/07/22 Built: 11/18/22 VIN received: 11/19/22 On a Train: 02/27/23 ETA: TBD 2023 Camaro 2SS Convertible/M6/Shadow Grey Metallic/Adrenaline Red Interior/Carbon Flash Wheels/NPP

06-15-2018, 10:07 PM	#3
Divrdown Drives: 2017 2SS Hyper Blue Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Moundsville WV Posts: 139	Trying to figure this out and avoid the dealer if its something I can fix myself. Local dealer was not able to lift the car properly for the first oil change I had to set up the lift! If its something major then I will go to a different dealer.

06-16-2018, 06:33 AM	#5
Divrdown Drives: 2017 2SS Hyper Blue Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Moundsville WV Posts: 139	Thanks I will get that checked.

06-16-2018, 03:45 PM	#6
Divrdown Drives: 2017 2SS Hyper Blue Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Moundsville WV Posts: 139	OK for anyone that has done this or had this done does the exhaust have to be dropped to replace the pinion seal? Or is there room to get the driveshaft unbolted and moved over enough to get the old one out and new one put in?? thanks

06-16-2018, 09:21 PM	#7
dpevans Drives: 2024 Riverside Blue 2SS 1LE Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,205	Pretty sure I would be having the dealer fix this. Being under warranty you might have bigger problems. Father in law had a pick up and after being in the shop numerous times for a diff leak GM finally replaced the whole rear end.

06-17-2018, 09:56 AM	#8
Divrdown Drives: 2017 2SS Hyper Blue Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Moundsville WV Posts: 139	Yes it will be going to the dealer, was just curious if the exhaust will have to come out. Its pretty tight around the driveshaft bolts and the seal. Wonder what GM specs the job out for time wise on the warranty? That would give me a better idea on what has to be done. Oh well will be calling the dealer Monday to try and get it in the shop.

06-22-2018, 11:33 AM	#10
Inthepasture Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 54 View My Garage	Divr, what did the dealer say. My car has the exact same problem. Going to the dealer today. I see this problem from other members over the past 1.5 years. James

06-22-2018, 11:35 AM	#11
Inthepasture Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 54 View My Garage	Divr, what did the dealer say? My car at 15k miles has the same problem. I have changed the diff fluid at 1500 and the dealer did at 11200. James

06-29-2018, 09:01 AM	#12
one R Drives: 2017 1ss Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: cincinnati ohio Posts: 68	If you go into the drive line section I had posted some decent pics of what mine looked like with its leak from the seal failure.

06-29-2018, 09:35 AM	#13
Divrdown Drives: 2017 2SS Hyper Blue Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Moundsville WV Posts: 139	Yes the seal was failing allowing the fluid to seep out and get onto everything and the wind from driving pushed it back and up and eventually dripped onto the exhaust. Hard to see it actually coming past the dust cap. Got it fixed last week and all seems to be OK. I have cleaned the area up so I can watch it to make sure it was just the seal and hopefully not an issue with the casting. Took the dealer about half a day to do it. The exhaust does have to come down and the driveshaft also. My car has the ground effects package so it was an issue dropping the exhaust. My dealer is pretty small and they had never worked on 6th gen much so this was all new to them which made it take longer. Job does require a GM tool to pull the snap ring type seal.

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