Wheel Seals

[jjsryd]

Tues, i noticed that the rear driver side wheel seal is leaking. I've been doing some research the last 2 days looking for a possable TSB on this but no such luck. Does anyone know if there is one? If not i will have to call the dealer and work something out with a friend of mine that works there and get wome other issues taken care of as well.

But the main thing right now is the seal cause i might have to do some driving to Arizona to our other store there in Nov.

Any help is is welcomed. Thanks in advance.

[MTPockets]

So the left rear axle seal is leaking gear oil? First thing I would do is verify your rear diff oil. You dont want to run it low on oil! Secondly, check the rear diff vent line. It's a short black rubber hose routed out the top of the diff to just above the spare tire. Make sure the filter at the end of the hose is not plugged. If the diff cant breathe, you will blow oil out the axle seals. If the vent is okay, the axle seal will have to be replaced. The oil will also destroy the parking brake shoes and brake pads.

Joel

[Str8blazin]

So the left rear axle seal is leaking gear oil? First thing I would do is verify your rear diff oil. You dont want to run it low on oil! Secondly, check the rear diff vent line. It's a short black rubber hose routed out the top of the diff to just above the spare tire. Make sure the filter at the end of the hose is not plugged. If the diff cant breathe, you will blow oil out the axle seals. If the vent is okay, the axle seal will have to be replaced. The oil will also destroy the parking brake shoes and brake pads.

Joel

That is the exact same thing that happened to mine. Listen to Joel!

[jjsryd]

I checked the valve and its clear. So i guess its time to change the seal. Now my question is whats involved. I need to know if the axels have C-clips like the old skool days or what. I'll just keep an eye on the oil level till i'm ready for the fix.

[Str8blazin]

They do have C-clips and everything is identical to most standard GM straight axles. You first will have to drain the oil in the rearend. There is a 3/8" drive plug in the bottom of the differential. After that, remove the differential cover. It has a steel lined rubber gasket on ithe cover from the factory. You can reuse it with out haveing to buy a new gasket. After the cover is off, turn the ring gear until you see a small bolt that goes through the carrier and into the large pin that is inside the carrier. You can't miss it, 5/16" hex head I think, and the only small one in there. Remove the small bolt and the pin will slide out of the carrier. Try not to turn the axles too much after you remove the bolt. The bolt keeps the spider gears assembled, and if you turn the axles too much, they can roll out of the carrier and leave you with haveing to realign them. You don't want to mess with all that. Once the bolt is out, simply push in on your axles and the C-clips will fall out on there own. Then, pull the axle out and pry the seal off. Get a decent seal remover tool(thicker puller is better). I didn't, I bought a cheap, thin one and the seal kept tearing and the first one took me forever to get out. Once the seal is out, drive the new one in with a piece of pipe or something close to the same size as the seal, so you can drive it in square with the houseing and have it sit all the way in there properly. The reassemble is reverse. I hope this helps you. Good luck and of course work safely.

[jjsryd]

That helps alot. I'll be doing it in about a week