Likely spots for the TD rear differential to leak from?

[Tom P]

My little TD is nearly done with its low-cost transformation from chicken-coop find to driver. It successfully made a 30 mile round trip drive to the local Cars & Coffee last weekend, but upon returning home and going into the garage it was clear the rear diff was leaking pretty badly. In the driveway a drop of fluid every 18 inches! The bottom center of the diff near the drian plug is quite wet - though the plug is firmly in place. Before I start digging into this, any advice about the most likely issue? My guess would be the pinion oil seal, but I have neevr addressed one of those before. Difficult job? Thoughts? Advice?

Here is a photo from cars & coffee.

Thanks in advance.
Tom

[frenchblatter]

Tom, it may be leaking from anywhere and running along the axle to drip from the diff casing. I would suggest cleaning all the oil off with petrol, drying the axle casing. Then get the car up on axle stands (4 so the car is still level) and run it in gear whilst you observe the ax;e casing with a good torch (er flashlight?)

[Tom P]

Excellent. I did just that on your advice. Not hard to see that the pinion seal is leaking badly. I have a new one on order from Moss Motors. With luck it will be here by the weekend. If anone has installation advice, I am all ears.. first time I have done this job. THanks. Tom

[Duncan M]

I would be curious what the pinion bearings look like Don't know about a TD diff.

[XPAGnut]

Tom I would imagine you might want to drain your diff oil right after a drive some time first and check to see if there are metallic flecs or pieces in the oil, which could tell you if the bearings are going to pieces or causing wear between the pinion and crown wheel, due to bad bearings

[Tom P]

Sorry Team, it was probably in bad form for me to forget to close out this discussion with the final result. The pinion seal was bad and the pinion flange was also faulty - a new one at Moss was cheap and earier than messing with a speedisleeve... There were no metal shavings in the fluid. So, this job is all done and the little TD has been used at least 3 times weekly since. My TC is fun, the TD has just a little more stability... and since the TD is so rough, I don't mind letting kids jump in it at cars & coffee or letting it sit in the work parking lot. It's been a real joy so far. The photo below is my buddy sitting in it... we pulled up into Plymouth CA. 4 E-Type Jags, my buddies brand new Porsche (behind the TD) and my TD. Folks on the street crowded to the TD - it is hillarious how much that little TD is enjoyed.