Inner CV shaft leak(Front Left)

by **Cable810** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:30 pm

Changed the Rear Differental today and I was looking at the front differental for the drain and fill holes and I noticed grease all around the inner shaft. I searched and nothing really came up that would help me. The Boot does not have any holes in it.

I don't think the entire shaft is bad, its just seems to be leaking. I had flexed it pretty good lastnight and I'm wondering if I flexed it enough to move the clamp... I have an offroad thing I'm going to the 13th so either I get answers fast or I'm going to have to take it to a shop and let them deal with it.

by **navigator** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:37 pm

I think that is called the tripot.
It is hard to tell if it is your diff seal leaking or the tripot itself.
There appears to be a greenish grease everywhere which I am assuming is the CV axle grease.
I would go get some CV axle grease (others please chime in) and a big hose clamp, pull the boot off of the tripot, smear it in there real good and put the big hose clamp on there and tighten it down.

Check your front diff fluid and seal also to make sure it isn't leaking. My seal was leaking a while back but I don't recall it getting everywhere like that.

by **TangoBravo** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:37 pm

navigator wrote:I think that is called the tripot.
It is hard to tell if it is your diff seal leaking or the tripot itself.
There appears to be a greenish grease everywhere which I am assuming is the CV axle grease.
I would go get some CV axle grease (others please chime in) and a big hose clamp, pull the boot off of the tripot, smear it in there real good and put the big hose clamp on there and tighten it down.

Check your front diff fluid and seal also to make sure it isn't leaking. My seal was leaking a while back but I don't recall it getting everywhere like that.

That's basically what I did to mine, after lifting my boots came loose so I repacked them and used hose clamps to keep them on.

by **Opeth** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:47 pm

I put hose clamps over those factory ones and tightened the snot out of them before mine could come apart. Just remember to trim a tail if you have one from the clamp so your not hunting for noises like I just did.

by **Cable810** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:42 pm

Thanks guys Glad I'm on ORTB!! I did the hose clamp to the outer boots just never did them to the inners. Should have done them both.

by **Opeth** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 5:51 pm

by **fishsticks** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 6:10 pm

I've never had an outer come loose unless the joint blew up.... You could probably get away with moving your existing clamps unless you took off the factory ones.

by **Wahugg** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 6:18 pm

Honestly it looks like the seal at the differential is leaking. The grease in the tripot joint itself is much thicker than what ever fluid that is (probably diff fluid).

Here is the thread at GMTnation (http://gmtnation.com/f79/leaking-front- ... tial-2098/) I made when I needed info on how to change the seal. It's pretty easy and strait forward. Just know that the seal is a GM only part. Auto Zone has them but they are too small and leak right away.

-Wahugg

Edit: After further looking at the picture it does seem that there is grease from the tripot present, but it also seems that the tripot itself is covered in the thinner differential fluid. The edge of the seal in the first picture does also appear to be wet. If it was just raining in your area and everything is wet due to water then disregard, but otherwise I would check the fluid level, and pull off that shaft ASAP to re-grease and reseal the tripot, and further inspect the differential seal.

by **Cable810** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:57 pm

Ok. I'll check the tripot tomorrow and see if its wet. It hasn't rained here lately.... Now I just need to round up some tools and find time.... Whats the part number for the Diff seal??

by **Wahugg** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:36 pm

Did you even check the link I posted?

-Wahugg

by **fishsticks** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:12 pm

Wahugg wrote:Did you even check the link I posted?

-Wahugg

Of course he didn't. Clicking is hard! :facepalm:

by **v7guy** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 4:38 am

Are you sure the boot is still attached?
The CV looks stock, Have you ever replaced the CV before?

That definitely appears to be CV grease flung all over. If you've never replaced the CV I would imagine the boot has come unseated. Since you still have the stock clamp on I would say this is probably likely. Just grab the boot and see if it slides away from the tripot.
If the boot is seperated you can try to clamp it back on but I never personally had any luck with that. I ended up coming up with an involved solution. But it's worked well. You can read about my lil adventure here... viewtopic.php?f=26&t=2701

by **Cable810** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:30 am

Yes I clicked the link Wahugg posted and I have read your post V7 about the boots many times. Checked it the boot, it seems to be attached the the tripot. I was pulling on it and i never moved. Wahugg you were right the Diff is leaking....

by **v7guy** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:53 am

I still stand by my previous statement. That really looks like CV grease that is sprayed all over. I'd be looking real hard for a tear in the boot or whatever is the reason you're getting that grease around the clamp. In another month or two it's going to be unpleasant to change it.

by **navigator** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:11 am

the seal is like <$10 from the dealer if I remember right. Just go to a dealer and get one.

by **fishsticks** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 11:58 am

A diff leak would be all over the diff housing with very little on the tripot. Likely on the subframe as well. Centripetal force throws the oil outwards, it doesn't coat the axle. Your housing is clean and dry.

Put your finger in there and get some on it. Smell it. Does it smell like gear oil? I doubt it.... that milky colored layer right by the clamp looks just like CV grease.

The grease can work past the stock clamp even though it's still "tight". Just put some 1$ hose clamps on there. I doubt you've even lost enough grease for it to matter.

Edit: Look at pic #2. All that stuff around the edge of the picture is CV grease. Diff oil doesn't congeal like that.

Also, this has positively been covered, photographed and documented dozens of times by members of all three forums for years. A search for "CV boot leak" would have put this to bed and saved a lot of people's time.

by **Moots1288** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 12:15 pm

fishsticks wrote:Also, this has positively been covered, photographed and documented dozens of times by members of all three forums for years. A search for "CV boot leak" would have put this to bed and saved a lot of people's time.

Yes it would have.

by **Cable810** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:36 pm

fishsticks wrote:A diff leak would be all over the diff housing with very little on the tripot. Likely on the subframe as well. Centripetal force throws the oil outwards, it doesn't coat the axle. Your housing is clean and dry.

Put your finger in there and get some on it. Smell it. Does it smell like gear oil? I doubt it.... that milky colored layer right by the clamp looks just like CV grease.

The grease can work past the stock clamp even though it's still "tight". Just put some 1$ hose clamps on there. I doubt you've even lost enough grease for it to matter.

Edit: Look at pic #2. All that stuff around the edge of the picture is CV grease. Diff oil doesn't congeal like that.

Also, this has positively been covered, photographed and documented dozens of times by members of all three forums for years. A search for "CV boot leak" would have put this to bed and saved a lot of people's time.

Yes the housing is clean and dry but right at the bottom of the Tripot its leaking(from what I can tell) I had searched "CV Boot Leak"

by **Wahugg** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:59 pm

I went ahead and circled what apears to be CV grease in Red. You defiantly have a CV leak, no doubt there. I wouldn't replace the boot, but rather just get a new shaft. They are around $50 at autozone. I also circled what I think apears to be Diff fluid in orange. The fluid on the tripod look just way to thin and "clear" colored to be CV grease. That leads me to believe it is either the diff seal begining to leak, or maybe it was raining in your area and the tripot simply got wet.

-Wahugg

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by **Cable810** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:15 pm

After work I checked the passenger side.The boot was lose enough I can push it and clearly see that it had a lose connection, with evidence of CV Grease. I'm thinking that the boot is working its way off and leaking some grease until it has no more to leak. Thats what it looked like on the passenget side. I clamped both with hose clamps and problem seems to be solved for the CV Boot.

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