Rear differential leak

[nebilex]

Hey folks,
I saw oil drips on the garage floor near the rear of the car after my wife backed out of the garage... So I checked under the car and the differential is soaked with reddish/brownish color which seems to be coming from the differential. I read a few threads where people changed the rear diff plug and everything seems fine. Anyone dealt with rear diff leak if yes how did you fix it?

[X5SND]

While it's entirely possible that the plug can be your leak....there's also a couple other areas that could be your culprit (namely, shaft seals). Can you pinpoint the source of the leak? Have you tried tightening the plug?

[THE VEIN]

I have this same problem but it looks to be my shaft seal

[nebilex]

Originally Posted by X5SND

While it's entirely possible that the plug can be your leak....there's also a couple other areas that could be your culprit (namely, shaft seals). Can you pinpoint the source of the leak? Have you tried tightening the plug?

I will look tonight and see if i can pinpoint where it's coming from. Is there an easy/inexpensive fix for the shaft seals?

[Doru]

Originally Posted by nebilex

I will look tonight and see if i can pinpoint where it's coming from. Is there an easy/inexpensive fix for the shaft seals?

Replace seals. You will need a special tool to pull the old seals out. You don't want to mar the seal groove. A bit involving, but not very hard. You can get an inexpensive axle seal removing tool by searching the net.

Sometimes, the half shaft can pop out - especially if you worked on that particular half shaft (ball joints for example). Then you can have a leak. This is an easy fix. You just raise the car and pop the driveshaft back in (a bit of force is required - you need to lever it back in). After that, you need to have the car level and check the fluid level.
I forgot to mention. Before starting on this job, get a can of brake dust removal spray and thoroughly clean the oil stained areas. This will enable you to monitor the repair.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by Doru

........Before starting on this job, get a can of brake dust removal spray and thoroughly clean the oil stained areas. This will enable you to monitor the repair.

Not a fan of brake cleaner when a mild degreaser will work just fine.

Most brake cleaners have warning labels stating plastic/rubber/adhesive degradation will occur if exposed to their contents.

A few yrs ago an E46Fanatics member posted a thread where he stated that brake cleaner is the best stuff for cleaning roof liners, I responded by informing him that the product attacks rubber, plastic and adhesives, he responded I did not know what I was talking about...........I would bet the farm his roof liner fell down shortly after his cleaning job.

Using the mildest cleaners/degreasers whenever cleaning/detailing a vehicle is an important part of vehicle longevity.

[OptimusPriM5]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

Not a fan of brake cleaner when a mild degreaser will work just fine.

Most brake cleaners have warning labels stating plastic/rubber/adhesive degradation will occur if exposed to their contents.

A few yrs ago an E46Fanatics member posted a thread where he stated that brake cleaner is the best stuff for cleaning roof liners, I responded by informing him that the product attacks rubber, plastic and adhesives, he responded I did not know what I was talking about...........I would bet the farm his roof liner fell down shortly after his cleaning job.

Using the mildest cleaners/degreasers whenever cleaning/detailing a vehicle is an important part of vehicle longevity.

Plus the odor from it is very overwhelming and permeates everything stupid to spray inside of a car.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Doru

Replace seals. You will need a special tool to pull the old seals out. You don't want to mar the seal groove. A bit involving, but not very hard. You can get an inexpensive axle seal removing tool by searching the net.

Sometimes, the half shaft can pop out - especially if you worked on that particular half shaft (ball joints for example). Then you can have a leak. This is an easy fix. You just raise the car and pop the driveshaft back in (a bit of force is required - you need to lever it back in). After that, you need to have the car level and check the fluid level.
I forgot to mention. Before starting on this job, get a can of brake dust removal spray and thoroughly clean the oil stained areas. This will enable you to monitor the repair.

I am not disagreeing that it could be seals, but, obviously it is important to be sure where the leak is coming from before doing any replacing---as long as you locate the source and address the issue very soon so the differential fluid does not get low enough to damage the diff,--assuming it is from the diff.

I would check the level, top it off if necessary,clean the area, take a short low speed drive, pinpoint the location of the leak--then address the needed repair.

[X5SND]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I am not disagreeing that it could be seals, but, obviously it is important to be sure where the leak is coming from before doing any replacing---as long as you locate the source and address the issue very soon so the differential fluid does not get low enough to damage the diff,--assuming it is from the diff.

I would check the level, top it off if necessary,clean the area, take a short low speed drive, pinpoint the location of the leak--then address the needed repair.

+1. First and foremost, find out where the leak is coming from before speculating on what needs to be replaced or how labor intensive the job is....then report back!