I got a 91 z28 with the 3.23 posi. Its got about 200k miles but you cant tell. I bought it two weeks ago, and replaced the pinion seal. The fuel pump died and i noticed its leaking again, but not as bad as the first leak.

When i tore it down to do the seal, the pinion nut was finger tight and the seal looked old. So i replaced the seal, snugged the nut up and let it ride. I did notice a good amount of play in the pinion shaft with the yoke off. Is that normal??

What would a shop usually charge for something like this?? I dont trust myself when it comes to the rearend. Ive done axle seals but nothing this deep!

Thanks!

 

a few hours labor and parts probably.

No shop is going to want to do the job without new gears, to avoid come-back-itis. So if you were planning on "just tightening things up" and going budget, you may want to consider doing it yourself.

 

The pinion will be loose when the yoke is off.

When you replaced the seal did you clean out the housing where the seal goes and smear a light film of RTV sealant around the area where the seal goes in? Did you put some grease on the rubber lip of the seal before you put the yoke in? Did you smear RTV into the splines of the yoke before you put it on? Did you use some red Locktite on the nut and torque it to about 125 to 150 foot pounds? Was there any up and down or in and out movement of the pinion after you installed the yoke and got the nut tight? If there was ANY movement of the pinion other than rotation then there is a problem with the bearings.

 

I did not use rtv on anything :/ i did put grease on the seal. It seemed to rotate a tad when the yoke is on but not a whole lot. Should i redo the job with rtv??

 

Is the seal leaking around the rubber lip or is it leaking around the outside? Is it leaking around the nut? Seems like you are going to have to redo it anyway if you want it to stop leaking.

 

Its leaking at the shaft. Not coming off the nut but where the shaft and the rubber seal meet. I dont mind redoing it but if its a problem with the bearing and its going to leak anyways ill just let a pro do it right. Ive never been very far into a rear end other than doing the seals/bearings and change fluid.

What would a ballpark price be to rebuild a rear?? Thousands of dollars?? Hundreds??

 

If it's leaking around the rubber lip then putting a new seal in probably isn't going to fix it. Does it have any up and down or in and out movement?

Rebuilding a rear end is around $300 to $800 in labor, depending on where you are and who you get to do it. A good bearing kit is around $125.

 

I replaced the seal last week. It really doesnt feel like it does (shake in/out, up or down) but it does turn just a tick. Its got 220k miles on it and has some mods so i assume its been run hard a few times in its life...

Edit: i may barrow a torque wrench and torque that nut right. I didnt torque it because when i did the seal i marked everything up to put back and the nut was loose and i didnt plan for that.

Think that could be it?

 

If the nut isn't tight then that probably is it.

 

Did you check the yoke when you had it off to see if it was worn where the seal rides?
Sometimes they get grooved or worn from grit or debris. If that is the case, see if you can get a speedi sleeve for it.
http://www.skf.com/us/products/vehic...its/index.html

If not youi may have to find a new or good used yoke.

Also check your rear axle vent and make sure you can blow air through it. If the vent is plugged, your axle will build up pressure as it warms up and cause the seals to leak.

 

Good points.

 

Hey thanks guys. Ill start checking all things mentioned and update!

 

Especially the one about the yoke.

Never seen a plugged vent, personally; but that doesn't mean it can't or won't happen. But I've seen a CRAP LOAD of wasted yokes.