engine and drivetrain Leaking Differential

[Stevenc22]

I recently installed a remanufactured differential from Retrosuperbikes. After about a month the differential started leaking. It appears to be leaking from the lower differential cover bolts and maybe even from the drain plug (which has a new washer).

 

Can the cover and the rear differential support be removed without removing the differential? I thought i did a really good job sealing the differential, im surprised its leaking at the bolts.

Edited May 6, 2013 by Stevenc22

[TobyB]

Yeah, I think so.  If you can weasel the rear carrier bracket out, I think there's enough room.

 

But it's been 15 years since I tried, so I might be remembering trying, not succeeding.

 

Those don't often leak if you use a coat of Permatex Super Black.

I don't remember the bolt holes going into the case, so it's probably

just leaking around them.

 

If you used the stock gasket, THAT might have done it- I've NEVER had much luck

getting that thing to stay in place, not tear, AND seal at the same time.

 

Super Black for the win.  Or something else that doesn't mind oil...

 

hth

 

t

[M3M3]

+1

permatex ultra-black is the ticket.  make sure you do a ring around all the bolt holes.

 

this job will be a bitch to do with the diff in the car.  if it was me, i would just spend the extra 20 minutes and pull the diff out to do it.  out of the car you also won't need to dump the diff oil.  just set the thing on its nose (supported), pull the cover, clean the surfaces being careful not to have scrapings go into the diff and reseal.  

 

once you have run the bead of ultrablack, set the cover on gently, then put the bolts in just barely hand tight enough to get a little of the black oozing out the sides. then stop.  let it set for a few hours.  then tq to spec and put back in car.

[Dabliz02]

+2

 

take it out of the car so you don't have to lay down for a long time.  may want to put some Teflon on the drain plug as insurance.

[Stevenc22]

There really isn't room to pull the diff cover with the diff in place. I ended up dropping the diff. The seals were all dry and so i called the diff builder and he thinks he forgot to put thredlock on the through bolts and so i did the bolts and redid the cover.

 

Only time will tell. Thanks for the advice.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Stevenc22