Pro

At least thats what I think it is. Back plate is clean.

This occurs during a 300 mile trip. The case is about half full.
What should I expect to pay to have this fixed? I have driveshaft vibrations as well, should I look into getting a new aluminum as a replacement?
(1991 Z28 L98)

ede

hour or so labor plus parts. you can call some shops in your area fro a quote.

Pro

What about the driveshaft? The car does shake pretty bad around 70mph and higher, and the wheels are perfectly balanced. I figure if the shaft is coming off to replace pinion seal anyway, might have it balanced or replaced (with aluminum one). If replacing is better, which one should I look for? (IE what donor car).

Pro

well im going to do it myself, anyone want to offer any tips go ahead.

ede

buy a new nut, measure the distance from the end of the pinion to the nut and when you reinstall it go another flat on the nut or add around .030 to the distance you measured. don't install the seal with out oil on the inner lip so it doesn't burn up. pretty easy straight forward job. it'll help if you make a "special tool" to hold the pinion yoke.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I just did this job this past weekend. I made the special "tool" out of an old lawn mower blade. It was a "universal" type so had slotted holes in the center. I cut off one end just beyond the slots, used a high speed angle grinder to smooth things (like the former grass cutting edge ) and create clearance for the socket to fit the nut. Bolted it on using the u-joint bolts in the slotted holes (could have drilled exact holes to bolt it on, though). I let the "tool" run up against the torque arm for loosening, and against the exhaust pipe for tightening.

It seems mine wasn't leaking from the seal but from around the yoke splines past the washer. When reassembling I put RTV at the end of the splines and under the washer. When relating that story on this board, others told me they used Teflon sealant on the splines, like the factory. Oh, I went ahead and replaced the seal (and changed the gear lube while I was at it).

After 3 days of driving, it's dry as a bone. We'll see what it's like after 6 months.

Before spending the bucks on an aluminum DS, check your u-joints and tranny mount. I also put a poly mount in while the car was in the air, it was about 1/2" thicker than the sagging old rubber mount. The difference it has made in improving smoothness and reducing interior noise is amazing.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Oh, finally looked at the pic you posted. I'd guess it is your seal, but make sure when you put it back together you seal the splines as well.

Looks like your cat is in good shape... :lala:

Pro

Thanks again for the help. Im sure Ill understand it better when I actually get a chance to get up underneath and take it apart.
And the cat has cancer, probably why it's pissed off.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Sorry to hear about the cat. Always tough to watch them suffer.

I've done pinion seals probably half a dozen times in the past couple of decades, this is probably the 1st time I've done it "right" - with the help of people on this board.

RB83L69

Kind of reminds me of one of my cars; I have to park it inside, because it has a cat leak.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
They leak in around the back glass in the convertible top, which needs replacing.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

What I should have said (which I didn't think of until about an hour later) is, "Looks like your cat is loose, too."

Pro

They are all stray.
Heres a pic of one of the other stray cats on my truck.
They cant help but be all over my vehicles.

Pro

Ha, oddly enough I use to own a 1980 Mercedes 450SL convertible with rips in it's rag and the cats would always try to get in there as well.

Pro

Well, I have the driveshaft off. Now I just need to get the nut out. If it is the stock size nut, anyone know what size it is? Biggest socket I have is 1-1/16

flyitlikustolit

sorry boss, you need either a 36mm, or ( i think) a 1 1/4 . the other guys might know better than me I had to replace the one on the 4th gen rear i swapped in, and we stuck a pry bar on each wheels to kepp it till. worked well, but I'm not sure if i installed the seal right or not, the rear seems to be still leaking.

ede

nut is 1 1/4 i think, most if not all pinion nuts seem to be.

rjmcgee

Yup, 1 1/4. Just had one apart yesterday.

Pro

Sweet, appreciate that. Ill pick one up today.
Any trick to getting the housing (or wahtever its called) off the car when the nut is off?

Pro

Only problem now is getting the housing (flange?) off. After about 200 lbs of torque, the nut and washer came off. Now what? Haynes and chilton manuals are junk.

ede

hammer, pry bar, even a puller would work

Pro

Thanks, got the yoke off last night. All I have to do now is get the new seal in and a new yoke (if needed) on. Only prob is that the yoke and new u joints dont want to match up.