how urgent is pinion seal replacement -rear 7.5"

[sickwilly]

basically im just wondering if i should worry about the seal leaking like a sieve or will it just cont to drip slowly. it leaks about a tbspoon a day right now. i just dont want to drive it one day and have it all leak out and screw something up while im going down the road and me not know it. Would it leak more driving it vs just sitting. ive read the tutorials and i think i can do the replacement, i just dont know how fast i need to jump on it. Adding fluid occasionally is no prob but i dont want a small leak turning into a flood all of a sudden. Its a 2003 w/ 68000 mi. I figure the seal is prob dry rotted after 13 years. thanks for any advise.

 

[Spott]

The pinion seal will never really leak rapidly, nor will it allow the diff to abruptly become dry.

The oil that leaks out the pinion seal is the small amount of splashed oil that gets behind the oil slinger, unless your diff is quite over-filled with oil. (IIRC, if you fill the diff up to the bottom of the fill plug, it's over-filled. It's not logical.)

If your differential is over-filled, it will leak more when sitting. Otherwise, it will leak more when driving.

The leaking seal is a concern, and ought to be addressed at some point, but will not cause catastrophic failure. For now, checking and filling as needed will prevent any additional problems.

 

[sickwilly]

i was hoping someone would say that. its my only vehicle so i was just making sure. I appreciate the reply.
I'm also wondering just how hard the pinion nut is to get off, laying on your back under a truck sitting on jack stands i mean. Hard to get leverage in that position. If it's tightened to 160 ft lbs, hell i barely weight that much and i dont know if i can get an impact wrench. Borrow dads air compressor maybe, but i dont know anyone with an impact wrench. thanks again.

 

[Doofy]

Good excuse to begin your life-long tool collection. Start with what you can afford and build on that in the coming years. Upgrade if and when you are able.

Drop hints to loved ones around Birthdays and Christmas that you are needing specific tools.

 

[sickwilly]

I'll borrow a breaker bar and either it will come off or it wont. I'll post back whenever i get to it.