Rear End leak !!!!Any ideas???

[Ported 03Termi]

Hey whats up a little concerned I have an 03 Cobra, just noticed my rear end leaking a couple days ago i put one bottle of Lucas gear fluid in there cause i didnt know how much was left in there!!! IDk how long it has been leaking, Anybody know what it could be? Price to fix it? anything i should or shouldnt do?

Anything would help thanks

 

[03Cobra]

Where is it leaking?(center section etc.) And is it an IRS or SRA car?

 

[Timspony]

Not uncommon to have the IRS seal leak a little...how much fluid was on the ground?

 

[Ported 03Termi]

everyday its at least idk i would say 15 drops within an 8hr period...

 

[Timspony]

That sounds like a lot!! ...might have to pull the cover off & reseal!!!

 

[Ported 03Termi]

how hard is that?and what are the chances of it being overfilled? how much would it leak if it was over filled and for how long?

 

[Cobra Esq]

Not uncommon to have the IRS seal leak a little

Very common. Almost sure it holds 2.9 pints.

Under stress the covers are also known to crack and break. As long as you are pulling the bolts I would install an IRS brace (mine is Billet Flow) or an aftermarket cover.

You may want to send modularmustang a PM, he is just finishing a complete IRS rebuild and swap into his sn95 http://www.newyorkmustangs.com/forums/my-irs-swapped-sn95-t22305.html

 

[Timspony]

^^^ Agreed ....Put the IRS brace on! ...Billet Flow here myself!

 

[Ported 03Termi]

so putting this on will prevent me from cracking or breaking the pumpkin?
And how will i know when the diff fluid gets real low? will there be noise or will it just lock up?

Thanks for the reply

 

[Cobra Esq]

so putting this on will prevent me from cracking or breaking the pumpkin?

No guarantee, I have heard of it happening, but it is far less likely. Well worth the $150-175 cost

And how will i know when the diff fluid gets real low? will there be noise or will it just lock up?

:idk: But, do you really want to find out?

 

[Ported 03Termi]

Hell No

 

[Ported 03Termi]

ill jack it up this weekend and have to find out where it is leaking from...Thanks for your help guys..

 

[Cobra Esq]

ill jack it up this weekend and have to find out where it is leaking from...Thanks for your help guys..

Does it really matter? I would just re-torque the bolts, if it holds, great. If not, then you need to pull it and replace the gasket.

I did a search on other forums and it seems it may be the same gasket as for an 8.8. Also some use gray/black RTV

 

[FrostByte]

If you are going to take off the cover then make sure you get the fast setting gasket cement. That stuff is easy to apply & sets fast enough so that you can add the fluid immediatly w/o worries.

 

[Ported 03Termi]

Does it really matter? I would just re-torque the bolts, if it holds, great. If not, then you need to pull it and replace the gasket.

I did a search on other forums and it seems it may be the same gasket as for an 8.8. Also some use gray/black RTV

Well couldnt it be leaking fromt he front seal? WOuldnt that be more work if it was? I have heard you can seal it with just RTV alone, IS this true or do you need a gasket?

Thanks for your reply and all your help

 

[Ported 03Termi]

If you are going to take off the cover then make sure you get the fast setting gasket cement. That stuff is easy to apply & sets fast enough so that you can add the fluid immediatly w/o worries.

cna i get this at autozone or Napa?

 

[Cobra Esq]

Well couldnt it be leaking fromt he front seal? WOuldnt that be more work if it was? I have heard you can seal it with just RTV alone, IS this true or do you need a gasket?

Thanks for your reply and all your help

Not as common, but sure. Clean off all stains with break fluid and see if you can figure out where it leaks. Either way check the cover bolts with a torque wrench. The reason they leak and sometimes crack is due to flex, particularly from a hard launch, which is why the brace is important.

From the threads I read I think it is either RTV OR a gasket, but not both

 

[Ported 03Termi]

wow just went under the car and found that the pumpkin already has the brace on there which is good but the question is why is it leaking?

 

[04 orange cobra]

Maybe post a couple pics so we can see how bad the leak is if you can...

 

[Cobra Esq]

wow just went under the car and found that the pumpkin already has the brace on there which is good but the question is why is it leaking?

Don't want to sound like a broken record, but take a torque wrench to all of the bolts, especially now that you know someone else pulled some of them to install the brace.