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Learn how to diagnose and repair a differential leak, from removing the wheels to caulking the axle, in this free auto-restoration video series from our expert mechanic and body shop owner.
There are 19 videos in this series:
Our expert custom-car mechanic racks a vehicle to begin work on a differential leak repair; find out why in this free auto-restoration video on car maintenance.
Often, leaks are found where the gear carrier bolts to the axle, but you'll need to find exactly where it's leaking before you seal it; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Remove the axles, held into the axle housing, by removing the wheels to gain access to the axles; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Remove the brake drums to back the axle retaining bolts out so the axles can be removed, allowing the gear carrier to slide out of the axle housing; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Remove the axle by reaching through the access holes with an impact gun so that the differential will slide out; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Set up a make-shift axle puller by sliding a brake drum onto the wheel studs to offer momentum for removing a stuck axle; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Remove the u-bolts in order to get the drive shaft out, removing it from the rear pinion without breaking the nuts; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Carefully remove the drive shaft from the differential yoke, accounting for the slip joint and sensitive u-joint on the other end of the drive shaft; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Drain the differential oil after removing the retaining nuts on the differential gear carrier, collecting the gear lube when the carrier comes loose; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Remove the differential, loosening it gently, when repairing a differential leak after all the nuts are removed and the oil is drained; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Our expert custom-car mechanic offers tips for cleaning the differential when repairing a differential leak to prevent gear lube from acquiring dirt; learn more in this free auto-restoration video.
Clean the differential axle housing out, since the oil in it will hold the dirt on the gasket surface, causing leaks; learn how to clean the housing in this free auto-restoration video.
Caulk the differential axle housing using an room-temperature vulcanizing, or RTV silicon, being careful to circle each stud; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Install the differential in the reverse of how you took it apart, being careful not to hurt the sealing ability of the silicon; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Install the drive shaft, keeping the drive shaft clean where it fits into the transmission; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Install the u-bolts on the differential yoke, taking into account the spring tension and lock washer; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Our expert custom-car mechanic offers tips for installing the axle when repairing a differential leak in this free auto-restoration video.
Install the brake drums and wheels when repairing differential leaks by sliding them back on; learn how in this free auto-restoration video.
Fill the differential fluid reservoir with gear lube, using between one and two quarts of oil, using limited-slip gear additive for limited-slip differential; learn more in this free auto-restoration video.
The differential in automobiles is a device which allows wheels to rotate at different rates while channeling the proper amount of force to each one. During a turn, the inner wheel spins faster than the outer one. A functional differential accounts for this difference and allows you to maintain control during a turn. But one which is not working properly results in unpredictable handling and possibly failure of the entire drive train. And you definitely don't want that to happen!
In this free series of car repair videos, our automotive expert tells you how to diagnose and repair a differential leak. Doug Jenkins talks you through the entire process, beginning with how to rack your car and how to remove wheels, brake drums and axle in the course of removing the differential. He then demonstrates how to clean and caulk the differential housing and put everything back together again. As a bonus, you will learn how to add fluid to your differential and tips to keep it in good working order.
Doug Jenkins Doug Jenkins runs Doug Jenkins Custom Hot Rods in St. Louis, where he restores classic cars and creates mild to wild custom street rods. He races a 1972 Corvette in the SCCA performance rally series, and drives a Ducati Monster to work every day. Doug got his start in fixing, customizing, racing, selling, restoring when he was in the fourth grade, fixing bicycles for anyone who would pay. By sixth grade Doug had bought non-running motorcycles and fixed them (and wrecked them as well). He had purchased his first broken down car by fourteen, which he fixed and sold for a profit. Now he runs his own body shop.dkdk
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