Z51 leaking 1/2 shaft
02-03-2014, 10:31 AM
#41
Race Director
left over C5 seals in the closet and decided to use them up.
02-03-2014, 01:16 PM
#42
Drifting
My C5 leaked from the seal around the side cap on the diff (the cap where the half shaft enters the diff housing). I had it replaced twice. The first time they used the same seal as was installed during assembly and it leaked after a few thousand miles. The second seal had a different part nbr and has not leaked. This was in 2002 so, hopefully, this is a very minor problem for the C7. 
02-03-2014, 01:37 PM
#43
Melting Slicks
My C5 leaked from the seal around the side cap on the diff (the cap where the half shaft enters the diff housing). I had it replaced twice. The first time they used the same seal as was installed during assembly and it leaked after a few thousand miles. The second seal had a different part nbr and has not leaked. This was in 2002 so, hopefully, this is a very minor problem for the C7.
02-07-2014, 06:06 PM
#44
replaced the differential, and 2 days and 80 miles later and its leaking
on the left side again. Unless the half shaft is seriously out of balance causing
the problem, which I think I would have noticed, I really think the seals
are a major issue. I saw the differential before it was installed, clearly it
was a brand new part.
on the left side again. Unless the half shaft is seriously out of balance causing
the problem, which I think I would have noticed, I really think the seals
are a major issue. I saw the differential before it was installed, clearly it
was a brand new part.
02-19-2014, 09:16 AM
#45
Well it took a lot of arm twisting, but GM has finally acknowledged that
the seals do in fact contract at temperatures below 20F and then leak.
So a new seal design which probably means a new rubber formulation is
in the works. ETA unknown at this time. There is another non-chevy vehicle
effected by this seal issue.
the seals do in fact contract at temperatures below 20F and then leak.
So a new seal design which probably means a new rubber formulation is
in the works. ETA unknown at this time. There is another non-chevy vehicle
effected by this seal issue.
02-19-2014, 09:25 AM
#46
Melting Slicks
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NCM Sinkhole Donor
Well it took a lot of arm twisting, but GM has finally acknowledged that
the seals do in fact contract at temperatures below 20F and then leak.
So a new seal design which probably means a new rubber formulation is
in the works. ETA unknown at this time. There is another non-chevy vehicle
effected by this seal issue.
the seals do in fact contract at temperatures below 20F and then leak.
So a new seal design which probably means a new rubber formulation is
in the works. ETA unknown at this time. There is another non-chevy vehicle
effected by this seal issue.
02-19-2014, 09:49 AM
#47
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Well it took a lot of arm twisting, but GM has finally acknowledged that
the seals do in fact contract at temperatures below 20F and then leak.
So a new seal design which probably means a new rubber formulation is
in the works. ETA unknown at this time. There is another non-chevy vehicle
effected by this seal issue.
the seals do in fact contract at temperatures below 20F and then leak.
So a new seal design which probably means a new rubber formulation is
in the works. ETA unknown at this time. There is another non-chevy vehicle
effected by this seal issue.
02-19-2014, 09:59 AM
#48
I'm doing everything thru my dealer. They got 4 cars delivered 2 weeks ago when
it was about 0F. They were all leaking right off the trailer. That set the bells ringing.
I'm sure a service bulletin will show up when replacement parts are available.
it was about 0F. They were all leaking right off the trailer. That set the bells ringing.
I'm sure a service bulletin will show up when replacement parts are available.
02-19-2014, 11:19 AM
#49
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This is scary. Are you able to at least drive the car till they have a fix?
I noticed some clear oily liquid had dripped from the rear of my z51, but the car only has 10 miles on it so I wasnt sure if it was an issue or not. I drove it 5 miles to a different garage on a clear day when it was cold when I noticed it. It hasn't dripped since sitting in the garage. I will keep an eye on this one.
What color is the fluid?
Thanks.
I noticed some clear oily liquid had dripped from the rear of my z51, but the car only has 10 miles on it so I wasnt sure if it was an issue or not. I drove it 5 miles to a different garage on a clear day when it was cold when I noticed it. It hasn't dripped since sitting in the garage. I will keep an eye on this one.
What color is the fluid?
Thanks.
02-19-2014, 11:34 AM
#50
Stick your finger on the top of the black transverse spring, left side of the differential.
take a swipe. Then you will know. About a foot left of center. Its mostly clear, and
fairly thick. It drips down from the left side seal, onto the spring, down the spring to
the low point, then off the low point to the ground.
The car only leaks when its cold. Once it warms up its fine. In 2 weeks of sub zero
weather it leaked about 1/8 of a quart.
The correct fill level puts the fluid at the top of the top of the seal. So it can really
only leak so much.
I'm no longer super angry because I don't consider it a safety issue but it sure is
annoying. This is my only car and I do have to drive it every day. If I wanted something
that leaked fluids I would have bought another jaguar (never again)
take a swipe. Then you will know. About a foot left of center. Its mostly clear, and
fairly thick. It drips down from the left side seal, onto the spring, down the spring to
the low point, then off the low point to the ground.
The car only leaks when its cold. Once it warms up its fine. In 2 weeks of sub zero
weather it leaked about 1/8 of a quart.
The correct fill level puts the fluid at the top of the top of the seal. So it can really
only leak so much.
I'm no longer super angry because I don't consider it a safety issue but it sure is
annoying. This is my only car and I do have to drive it every day. If I wanted something
that leaked fluids I would have bought another jaguar (never again)
Last edited by kevingilmore; 02-19-2014 at 11:40 AM.
02-19-2014, 11:53 AM
#51
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Stick your finger on the top of the black transverse spring, left side of the differential.
take a swipe. Then you will know. About a foot left of center. Its mostly clear, and
fairly thick. It drips down from the left side seal, onto the spring, down the spring to
the low point, then off the low point to the ground.
The car only leaks when its cold. Once it warms up its fine. In 2 weeks of sub zero
weather it leaked about 1/8 of a quart.
The correct fill level puts the fluid at the top of the top of the seal. So it can really
only leak so much.
I'm no longer super angry because I don't consider it a safety issue but it sure is
annoying. This is my only car and I do have to drive it every day. If I wanted something
that leaked fluids I would have bought another jaguar (never again)
take a swipe. Then you will know. About a foot left of center. Its mostly clear, and
fairly thick. It drips down from the left side seal, onto the spring, down the spring to
the low point, then off the low point to the ground.
The car only leaks when its cold. Once it warms up its fine. In 2 weeks of sub zero
weather it leaked about 1/8 of a quart.
The correct fill level puts the fluid at the top of the top of the seal. So it can really
only leak so much.
I'm no longer super angry because I don't consider it a safety issue but it sure is
annoying. This is my only car and I do have to drive it every day. If I wanted something
that leaked fluids I would have bought another jaguar (never again)
Sounds a lot like mine, was around 0 when I drove the car and noticed the fluid and its now in a heated garage now not leaking.
02-19-2014, 11:58 AM
#52
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
C5 diffs have a major design flaw (IMHO) in that they have NO bearing supporting the half-shaft on the driver's side. So that side tends to move around more and the single seal GM uses isn't always enough to completely prevent leakage.
A local shop machines in a 2nd groove for a 2nd o-ring and that fixes the leak long term
A local shop machines in a 2nd groove for a 2nd o-ring and that fixes the leak long term
02-19-2014, 12:04 PM
#53
These new shaft seals are very different from the ones on the C5 or C6.
Why I do not know. I drove 68k miles in 7.5 years on my C6 and never a leak.
Although the weather was never quite as brutal as this winter.
Why I do not know. I drove 68k miles in 7.5 years on my C6 and never a leak.
Although the weather was never quite as brutal as this winter.
02-19-2014, 12:54 PM
#54
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
My wife's C5 ZO6 on the other hand, started leaking at 60K miles and we did the 2nd o-ring mod and it's been fine since
02-19-2014, 01:23 PM
#55
Team Owner
I would rather have a leaking oil seal on a half shaft than a leaking engine due to a dropped exhaust valve resulting in a connecting rod through the side of the block.
02-19-2014, 04:20 PM
#56
Burning Brakes
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The more things change, the more they stay the same...
Kinda typical corvette problem... Does the driver door leak water? Does the clutch pedal stick to the floor under heavy acceleration?
Best of luck with the repairs, guys. Been there done that.
Kinda typical corvette problem... Does the driver door leak water? Does the clutch pedal stick to the floor under heavy acceleration?
Best of luck with the repairs, guys. Been there done that.
02-19-2014, 04:34 PM
#57
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2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Ok, I'll take door number one for the halfshaft and the win!
02-19-2014, 05:26 PM
#58
Team Owner
I think you should buy a round of drinks for GM. After all, they are changing the design/material of the seal for a problem that doesn't exist on a single C7....correct?
03-01-2014, 04:08 AM
#59
Well it took a lot of arm twisting, but GM has finally acknowledged that
the seals do in fact contract at temperatures below 20F and then leak.
So a new seal design which probably means a new rubber formulation is
in the works. ETA unknown at this time. There is another non-chevy vehicle
effected by this seal issue.
the seals do in fact contract at temperatures below 20F and then leak.
So a new seal design which probably means a new rubber formulation is
in the works. ETA unknown at this time. There is another non-chevy vehicle
effected by this seal issue.