Leaky diff......

[Phil C]

Hello all,

I seem to have a leak from the diff on my 4.0 pre cat (end '92). Any suggestions as to what might be the likely culprits and how difficult they are to check out? I'm happy to get the car on axle stands and have a good look - but don't have the time at the moment to spend a sunny saturday making no progress at all - and wishing I'd just paid for the work to be done by someone who really knows what they're doing.....

thanks

[That Daddy]

Phil dont know if this is of use but my brothers chim had this problem,he went underneath and nipped up the bolts to the diff housing cover problem solved no leakage since,got to be worth a go

[Phil C]

Sensible suggestion - I'll certainly give it a try. I s'pose I'm just concerned that it's a sign of something more nasty - only had the car a couple of months...

Thanks for your help.

Anyone else with other thoughts...?

[spend]

When you get it up in the air you may find it is just the vent pipe. Hard driving can chuck a bit of oil out of the vent.
Best thing is to clean it off & make sure you can identify where the leak is. It is very easy to total the diff if you run it low (and quite expensive), so I would do an oil change or at the least top it up whilst you are at it.

Dave

[350matt]

Are all the cars ( griffmerea) a limited slip type diff?

Matt

[dnb]

I would guess it's likely to be either the prop shaft seal or one of the driveshaft seals. Mine leaks too, up until this month, I've just topped the oil up and "ignored" it.

Now I have a nice clean chassis, I am going to fix it.

[Phil C]

Thanks - that's more reassuring.

One question tho'. What type of oil to use in the GKN/Salisbury Diff that my car has. Is standard EP80 stuff OK? Or is it something more exotic. In the Steve Heath bible it refers to oil for the BTR / Hydratrak, but not the earlier ones.

All help gratefully received......

[350matt]

If its a slippy diff then you need slippy diff oil, NOT the normal hypoid stuff as the hypoid additive knackers the clutch plates in the diff. Valvoline do an oil thats suitable and marked up as suitable for LSD's

Matt

[spend]

Millers fully synth LSD oil is used happily by quite a lot of us.

Dave

Deal must be busy fiddling around according to items 15-18 on his list; otherwise he would of said this...

ETA:
From an old thread

Seasider said:

Millers do equivalent oil

www.sideauto.co.uk do mail order 01702 257225 Richard is a very helpful gay


I'm not connected but pls mention Del silver Griff and i might get lucky next time

Edited by spend on Wednesday 11th April 13:37

[Phil C]

I thought they were all LSD's - or maybe it's just what I've been smoking.....

Anyway, I guess this means I need the special oil - unless anyone knows different....

[Phil C]

Hi spend. Thanks - I didn't see your note added at the same time as mine. Millers it is then!

[Tildo430BV]

Phil,

I have a 92 Griff with a leaky diff - Get it checked out by someone in the know as i believe that the GKN diffs can be quite difficult to replace.

Having said that, i have had it confirmed by 2 very reputable dealers that it is not unusual for diff oil seals on 15 year old TVR's to leak a little. Keep an eye on your garage floor for sign that its getting worse and it mught be worth getting the diff oil level checked (quick enough job for a specialist with ramps), do a 1000 miles and get them to check the levels again.

Serious problems with the diff will usually be acompanied by noise of some kind so if its pretty quiet you probably ok - still better to be safe than sorry.