I replaced my front and rear diff covers with the riddlers about 2 months ago. I have recently noticed a very slow leak, there will be a small drop of oil hanging on the bottom of the diff it prolly drips one drop a day and the leakage is mainly at the bottom.

I havent wheeled hard since then no rocks or mud any ideas on what caused this? I have some free timel next week so I guess Ill get around to disassembling the rear diff and replacing the rtv and oil. Any suggestions so this doesnt happen again.

I'll throw up a picture tomorrow so you get any idea of what im dealing with.

 

Chances are you missed some factory gasket gunk when the new cover was installed.

 

I would guess one of two things...

First (assuming you used RTV instead of a Lubelocker, when you applied the RTV, a small amount of old gear oil dripped down out of the diff between when you cleaned it with brake cleaner and when you applied the diff cover with RTV on it. This can compromise the seal of the RTV to the face/lip of the pumpkin itself.

Second, you drug your diff over a rock/etc and it just slightly tugged at the lip of your Riddler cover... Only enough to break the seal of the gasket/RTV and cause a slight seapage. Either one of these would be fixed using a Lubelocker...

If you already used a Lubelocker, well, umm, then... beats the hell outta me...

 

I used the RTV that came with the riddler diff covers forget what its called its possible oil may have gotten in between the seal or a missing spot of RTV around the entire edge being that was the first time I removed the covers on my jeep. It just sucks i have to do the same job over again wheres the best place to get Lube Locker RTV? any other suggestions so this doesnt happen again.

 

Call David at http://northridge4x4.com/ He'll fix you right up. I don't see how catching the lip of a quality diff cover is going to cause it to leak. It's gotta be yet another good reason not to use RTV down there.

 

I have the same problem with my differential cover when I drag them over rocks. The cover shifts, the RTV will release and then oil wil leak slowly.

The best solution appears to be using the Lube Locker which will usually continue to seal even after the cover shifts.

Be sure to double check the lip of the cover to insure its not hanging too low. If so, you might grind it down a bit so it is less likely to get hung up. This problem is particular common if you use a CV driveshaft which causes your differential to operate a more servere angle and therefore the cover becomes more vulnerable when you drag it.

 

lubelocker - lubelocker - lubelocker ...worth every dime.

RTV is great for a trail fix, but that's about it in my book. I had the same problem. Got a set of Lubelockers with my ARB's and not even a seep. Super clean and fast install too. Lubelocker is a gasket, not RTV (it has RTV already on it). Check Northridge.

 

thanks if I knew this i would used the right stuff in the first place o well just more time to wrench on the jeep

 

I am sure you know this, But LubeLocker is not RTV. It's a gasket

w w w.lubelocker.com

 

While I was rotating tires today, I noticed a wet area and drip at the front diff cover. I checked the botton 3 bolts and found them to be loose. I tightened them and hope that takes care of things. Gave a quick squirt of fluid in the fill hole to make up for the little that was lost.