Small Pinion Seal Leak = Replace Differential!

[BlaineBug]

Strange thing but with hundreds of miles put on since I posted, my differential is still dry as a button.  Of course the oil DID look old, it didn't look like a fresh leak, and I ended up cleaning it off with one whole can of brake cleaner.

I have never seen this before but it is possible that the seal and yoke needed time to "bed" and "wear" together.  But that's not a common phenomena to be honest.  Oh well, if it isn't leaking I'm not concerned.  I'm sure if I left it oil stained I could have had the dealer replace the seal as well.

[Zach-91]

On 2/5/2020 at 6:40 PM, BlaineBug said:

Strange thing but with hundreds of miles put on since I posted, my differential is still dry as a button.  Of course the oil DID look old, it didn't look like a fresh leak, and I ended up cleaning it off with one whole can of brake cleaner.

I have never seen this before but it is possible that the seal and yoke needed time to "bed" and "wear" together.  But that's not a common phenomena to be honest.  Oh well, if it isn't leaking I'm not concerned.  I'm sure if I left it oil stained I could have had the dealer replace the seal as well.

Have you checked the fluid level to make sure it's not so low that it just isn't leaking anymore? I doubt a rear diff would get that low this quick on a newer truck but you never know. 

[BlaineBug]

37 minutes ago, Zach-91 said:

Have you checked the fluid level to make sure it's not so low that it just isn't leaking anymore? I doubt a rear diff would get that low this quick on a newer truck but you never know. 

Yes, it is just slightly below the plug on the cover.  Which I believe is actually at the proper level, not necessarily right up to the plug.

[Zach-91]

1 hour ago, BlaineBug said:

Yes, it is just slightly below the plug on the cover.  Which I believe is actually at the proper level, not necessarily right up to the plug.

Nice. Well that's awesome that it cleared up. Maybe it was overfilled from the factory. 

[BlaineBug]

Potentially, I just can't imagine that it was ever overfilled.  Even if it was filled right to the plug that shouldn't make it leak.  It would have to be substantially overfilled and I'm not sure how that could possibly happen.  But I know for a fact that the oily coating on the differential wasn't fresh oil.  It's hard to describe but fresh leaks look more wet than old which is more like an oily stain.

[ILSilverado]

On 1/16/2019 at 4:11 PM, DougFL said:

The end of December, I noticed a small amount of oil on the garage floor under the front of rear differential of my 2WD, 2019 High Country.   It appeared to be a pinion seal leak.  The Dealership concurred and ordered a new front yoke and pinion seal.  Today, the Dealership called and informed me that GM did not have the parts so they sent a Complete new rear Differential as a replacement!!  Now they need my truck for a Full day to swap rear ends.   Appears to be an EXPENSIVE way to replace a $10 part, but GM must know Best!?

Well sometimes on first year vehicles GM wants to capture faulty parts whole and dissect them.  They do this with engines also they want the whole assembly so engineering can stop trouble before it gets to wide spread.

[Zach-91]

Dropped mine off this morning. Waiting to hear back on the diagnosis and proposed fix. I assume it's just the seal. 

[Moledigger2019]

I also have a leaker. 25k and haven even had her for a whole year. Feel like this is getting ridicules way to fast. Bad factory alignment and now a leaking pinion seal. 

 

[eldercat]

I finally got my seal replaced today. Part was on back order since November. Fingers crossed.