I drove my camaro around the block the other day, when i pulled into my driveway and stopped i had smoke coming up through my shifter, i jacked the car up to inspect what was up and im seeing alot of oil by the rear axel with some on my exhaust pipe, could it be i need to replace the pinion seal or something else?

 

Keep in mind oil/fluid generally will not go from the rear of the car to the front. See where the oil is at on the pipes, then look upstream

 

Rear end fluid has a distinctive odor. If that's what that mess it, the car should literally reek of it.

If that's coming from the pinion seal, as it appears to be, you have bigger issues than just the seal.

Usual reasons the seal leaks are, the bearings have no preload (worn and/or the nut backed off which is how "crush sleeve" systems die), and/or the yoke has a groove worn in it where the seal rides, and/or it has got water in it somehow from a leak that is otherwise not so serious. Could very well be a combination of more than one of those factors. I notice also that one of the plug welds is leaking, which means the weld is cracked, which means the tube is probably able to move around in the pumpkin.

 

Picture doesn't show enough but it almost looks like it's coming from the pinion nut/yoke/spline area. Maybe the nut backed off or the sealant died on the splines. Have to dig in a bit and see.

 

Alright I'll get back under and see if I can get a better look at it, thanks for the info so far.

 

I would pre order a yoke repair sleeve a worn groove in the yoke is common on our older cars and a new seal will not fix

 

I have an almost identical situation on my '92. I replaced the pinion seal about two years ago. Everything was nice and dry. Then sometime last year I was under the car and it looked just like yours. There is nothing that I can see coming from the seal area, and the pinion nut is dry. I did have a small leak somewhere up near the rear of the block or rear seal, and there was a lot of crud on the lower lip of the torque arm running down the entire length of it. I cleaned it all up while I was working on the engine over the last couple months. Looked under there last weekend when I was taking it off the jack stands and there was a small amount of fluid hanging off the torque arm bolts. I'll save that repair for another day. Hoping to come across a cheap torsen unit and just swapping the innards of the whole thing out.

GreenieGPlease update us if you get it resolved.

 

The pics didn't show when I first replied, sure does look like like something amiss in the rear end.

 

got under to look back up to look at my differential saw what looks like old caked up oil. thinking maybe i need to take off the axel and redo all the seals or find a decent used one to replace it?
Its a 9 bolt 3.45

 

I have corrected several pinion seal leaks, by simply noting the position of the pinion nut with a scribe, scratch awl, or whatever can make indexing marks. Remove the nut and yoke, install yoke repair sleeve it it is grooved. Install new seal(lube lip) , coat outer shell w/ sealant if it is metallic, if rubber do not coat it. Re-install pinion nut tighten to index marks and maybe 1/8 inch more.

If this doesn't work, then you need the "textbook" repair. If after driving it a while, it does not leak, Id recommend removing the diff cover and at least change the lube and gasket. Add friction modifier (before the oil) if it is a Posi diff. If your hearing any axle bearing growling...pull the axles and inspect the bearing and contact area on the axels for pitting, etc. If the axle shaft bearing contact area is damaged, new axles, OR buy "repair bearings" that reposition the bearing races to ride on a previously unused part of the axle. Replace axle seals while your in there.

 

ok thanks for the info! ill look into doing that.

 

Could also be the seal at the transmission tail-housing. where the driveshaft yoke enters.

RBob.

 

could it be from about 10 years of running a T-5 behind a 350 TPI?