Rear Differential Cover Rusted Through

[cmoore74]

I noticed some drips on the driveway and the bottom of the rear differential cover was damp on the wife's 2000 blazer (~83k miles). When I took a better look it is not the seal that's leaking. The oil is weeping part way up from the center of the cover. Apparently it rusted through.

 

I have never had a rear differential cover rust through in such a short amount of time. Did I just get a bad cover or is this common?

[Draenor]

Do you live up in a state that puts salt on the roads in the winter? If so that may of contributed to the quick corrosion of the cover.

[cmoore74]

Yup, always lived in New England and they do use salt on the roads. This is the first one that ever rusted through and some of the vehicles I have owned were considerably older with more miles and I've never rusted through a differential cover. I probably just got a bad one since no one seems to have ever had this problem.

[sonjaab]

CMOORE..............Be thankful you don't own a Ford truck !

Several guys on the snowplowing forums have reported

oil pan rust thru on their snowplow rigs !!!!

 

Yea its prob. cheap metal along with salt corrosion !.....geo

[Wingnut]

That's just bizarre. I've never even HEARD of one rusting through until I read this thread.

[TA462]

I just replaced the cover on my 97 S-10 back in December because it was leaking due to being rusted through. I've owned lots of vehicles but this is the first time I've ever swapped out a rear end cover due to rust.

[drumset5994]

Mine rusted out on my 99 Silvy.

 

My mom's 97 S10 is also ready to rot through

[eischen]

wd40 stops rust

[stylerado]

sure does