Alright, I did a search and I think it is the rear pinion seal that is shot. The Whole area around the u-joint is soaked with oil, and it makes a ring around the driveshaft tunnel, a oily stripe on the torque arm, and ect. And it makes a puddle in the driveway.

I couldnt find any threads on how to do it. Is it complicated? I have never had a RWD car before, so no driveshaft/rear end experience. Or should I take it to an exhaust shop. Also, how much would be a good price for a shop to charge? I dont want to get raped! Thanks.

BTW its a 10 bolt 3.08 gears open diff.

 

Come on, somebody has to know?

 

Alright, I added fluid to it before the trip up here to NH. It was kind of low, about 1/2 of the pointy gear oil bottles before it started to run back out. Hopefully that holds me over till next week when I go home again. I dont trust myself to try replacing the seal really, so I will try to get a shop to do it.

My buddy jeff had "pop's exhaust" do the seal on his 98 camaro SS and it has been fine for 2 years, so thats who I was thinking of calling. Hopefully my rear is still good. The threads I searched all said that when the seal starts leaking, look for a new rear. But mine only has 51,000 miles on it, but sat for a few years so maybe thats why.

 

It's not an easy job. Basically you need to remove the driveshaft, Impact the nut off the pinion, pull the yoke off, change the seal, put the yoke back on, and the final part.... the hard part, it to retighten the pinion nut without overtightening it or leaving too much slack in the pinon, either will destroy your bearing/gears.

The hardest part will be getting the nut off.... I used a 3/4" impact on mine and it wouldn't budge without heat. I tried a breaker bar with a cheater pipe and actually jacked the car in the air by it! Some come off much easier though so YMMV

 

Ive done mine a few times. X2 on the above post about what needs 2B done. Nut is a 1 1/8 or 1 1/16 something like that. One thing to look for is do you have any vibrations?

 

It is a easy job .if you ask me i did mine this weekend have a drain bowl ready and a long 1/2 drive wrench ready..One ? for everybody easle with the rear end make sounds if over tighed

 

Hahahaha Mine made noises B4 the pinion seal needed 2B replaced. Aftermarket gears.

 

Finally, thanks for the replies. Yeah, I have a vibration on the highway but I looked and tons of people here have that same symptom, so I figured I could live with it. Also, I dont think the vibration is that bad, maybe its just my WS6 suspension because i can to 70-75 on fresh pavement and it will ride smoothe. But on an older road like the mass pike or I-84 it will shake everything in the car. Would having the vibration cause the seal to go bad?

Also, i have read so many threads apout the pinion seal, and some say to use an in/lb torque wrench to take the nut off. Others say, count the threads and retighten to that plus 1/16 turn. What about a quick shot of spraypaint to mark the threads?

I think I am going to get some quotes from shops to have this done. That way, if they **** it up and the rear end goes, they owe me a new one. Anyone care to speculate on what this is supposed to cost at a shop? I dont want to overspend. Thanks!

[edit] oh btw the rear end doesnt make any audible noises. Hopefully it is still good since I have been running it low on fluid between refills.