Gatsbee13

so I took in my car to my mechanic today to get the diff fluid replaced and we found out that the front seal is slinging a bit of fluid. my car has 228k miles and I don't drive the car hard at all. but just wanted to find out if I should just replace the front seal (cost: labor $100 + seal ($20))or go for a total rebuild.. im trying to get this car passed 300k miles on original head and block. rebuild cost would be roughly $100 to remove diff and install when rebuilt and cost of rebuild is $225 for labor if I supply bearings.. so my question is: with the cost of rebuild being around $525 versus the just replacing the front seal for $120, what do you guys think I should do given my situation? my car does not have a clunking sound or anything from the rear, just the fluid leak. as far as rebuilding or replacing diff, id rather rebuild it as you never know what your getting with a used unit..

any advice greatly appreciated. thx

jkelley

Talk to S2KPUDDYDAD (not sure if I spelled that right) on here. He will know what you should do and has much more experience, I'm sure, than whoever you're going to. I would be VERY surprised at a $525 diff build that lasts... that sounds very very very cheap to me. Additionally, a lot of people that claim to rebuild diffs build them poorly. Puddydad is not one of those people. Those other guys will put your diff back in your car and you'll think "why is it whining now?" It's because it's poorly built.

DaGou

changing a bearing and a seal is not a rebuild. A true rebuild is more like $1000. As stated about talk to Puddy he is the Diff absolute expert, he is Florida.

S2KPUDDYDAD

Thanks guys, also it maynot be leaking from the seal it maybe leaking out past the pinion spline and nut. The seal rarely leaks even at 225k miles but getting past the pinion spline is more common. If they remove the prop shaft and oil comes out, then for sure coming from the pinion spline.


The $500 quote to remove the rear from the car and rebuild the rear then, reinstall is to cheap. The man can not make any money doing it that cheap even cutting corners and using inferior parts. To do the job right is about 8 hours labor time if everything goes perfect.

The $100 deal to replace the seal covers, $12 pinion seal, $7 pinion nut, $16 quart of oil, the rest is labor.
This is more in line and ok

Good luck