Sudden Pinion Seal Leak

[AldeanFan]

What would cause a pinion seal to suddenly start leaking badly?

10 years ago I swapped 355 gears in to an 8.8 in one of my cars,
The car has driven about 5000km since then, and made 3 - 1/4 mike passes this summer.
It sat in my garage for two months and did t leak a drop until yesterday.
I drove about an hour to a friend’s place to use his lift to install a line lock. After two hours on the lift there was a 6” diameter puddle of gear lube under the car.

Is it unusual for a major leak to appear so suddenly? What would have caused to to go so bad so fast?


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[KevinVarnes]

Check that the vent on the axle tube isn't plugged. You should be able to unscrew it and inspect/clean it. On my Crown Vic it is on the top of the driver's side tube.

Can you feel any up/down side/side movement when you apply force to the pinion via the driveshaft?

[gt pony]

^+1..

[AldeanFan]

Thanks I’ll check the vent tomorrow night when I can get back out to the garage


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[erratic50]

Failed bearing?

[AldeanFan]

Should know later tonight, wish me luck under there.


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[AldeanFan]

Clogged vent is the most likely cause,
Looks like the cap was rusted up and wasn’t venting.

Pinion has zero slop and there no movement between the axles and driveshaft so everything is still good and tight.

May still build a new rearend for this car with 410 gears and swap this rearend in to my ‘83. Need something to do while it’s snowing this winter.


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