Leaking Drive Pinion Seal?

[MineralMan]

So this weekend I am up under my car replacing the factory exhaust with my new Borla Stinger exhaust ( ) and I found the results of a leak. Initially I thought that maybe I had a small oil leak that was causing gunk to form just ahead of the rear axle.

But futher looking at the evidence, it looks like the rear end is leaking at the front (where the driveshaft attaches). There is fluid and associated gunk (fluid mixed with dirt from the roads) on and around the ends of the mufflers and just ahead of the rear axle (from side to side). The pumpkin side of the rear end is clean, the gas tank is clean, and the underside of the car is clean from the engine back to about mid-muffler. It is in a pattern that suggest tha the fluid is being slung up and around fromt he spinning driveshaft.

According to the manual, it looks like the Drive Pinion Seal is the culprit. Has anyone had to replace this yet? How difficult is it? Anything special I need to be on the lookout for when I do replace this?

 

[TweekedGT]

Damn man, what are the odds. I could smell some smoke coming from my car the other day and popped my head under the car, tranny fluid was leaking onto the top of my prochamber and then igniting and smoking. I believe it is the input shaft seal, I haven't changed mine yet but it is supposed to be fairly easy. Ford ws going to charge me only $70 to do it so it must be easy. No way i'm letting someone else touch my car. I'm gonna change mine in the next few days, I'll tell you how it goes. Should be fairly similar on the rearend side.

 

[pete1665]

im having the exact same problem as you. I am going to look into replacing the pinoin seal when i get home today. I'll keep ya posted as to what i find out!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Pinion seal will leak when the car is lowered more than 1" and the pinion angle is not corrected by the use of adjustable UCAs. Make sure your pinion angle is in spec.

 

[RedDaemon]

Pinion seal will leak when the car is lowered more than 1" and the pinion angle is not corrected by the use of adjustable UCAs. Make sure your pinion angle is in spec.

interesting..ill put those on my list of things to get as well

 

[MineralMan]

Pinion seal will leak when the car is lowered more than 1" and the pinion angle is not corrected by the use of adjustable UCAs. Make sure your pinion angle is in spec.

Interesting. I was not aware of that. The car is lowered wtih H&R SS springs. I will check the pinion angle to make sure that it is in spec.

Adjustable Uppers? Or Adjustable Lowers? I've seen adjustable LCAs, but haven't found UCAs.