Rear differential leaking

[21CarbGrayST]

Well I went and picked it up and the service manager insists that they are hydraulic filled bushings on this application. Even said, unless it starts sagging, he wouldn’t worry too much about it. Took the car and will be working with a different dealer/shop. Anyone in the Cincinnati area know a reputable and reliable shop/dealership that can shoot me straight?

 

[21CarbGrayST]

The one that’s “leaking” literally says…Push from this side” However, after driving 10 miles home, the fluid is not hot and basically odorless.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Correct, they only press in one way. Has nothing to do with any fluids.

 

[bmidd]

Just buy yourself a syringe and some bushing fluid and keep it topped off.

 

[CoHPhasor]

He said 64K so out of warranty. Sounds like they’re still trying to do him a solid.

Sorry, I missed that it was 64, not 54. Busy day at work.
Yea, it's true that something so costly getting a discount is a solid if youre out of warranty.
Personally I get the extended warranty just for B.S. like this.

 

[CoHPhasor]

They would only press in from the back because you want the bushing to be locked into place when it is tightened down, otherwise, it could just slide out the other side over time.

I dont know if it is somehow a hydraulic bushing (maybe earlier parts were and they moved away from it?), but if that were the case they could press in the new part, not replace the crossmember.

As Unbroken points out, my concern is that they have written off the diff as a leakage source and that could be catastrophic.
It is interesting though that the fluid was cold

 

[GearHead_1]

These bushings are not hydraulic/liquid-filled. I too, wonder if somehow the bolt hasn't punched a hole in the diff cover and it's leaking down the bolt and out the back. I would think it would be easy enough to identify the fluid shown isn't gear lube. Just smell it. Regarding gear lube, it's that old saying, "If you know, you know."

 

[Cajun Heat]

These bushings are not hydraulic/liquid-filled. I too, wonder if somehow the bolt hasn't punched a hole in the diff cover and it's leaking down the bolt and out the back. I would think it would be easy enough to identify the fluid shown isn't gear lube. Just smell it. Regarding gear lube, it's that old saying, "If you know, you know."

That's for sure. Changed the differential fluid in my Ram a couple weeks ago and my wife wouldn't even come in the garage because of the smell. Should have keep a cup of it for those days I want to be left alone in the garage...lol

 

[Cdubya]

So yesterday I moved my Explorer from one garage bay to another to work on it. I noticed some oil leak dribbled in the driveway and also in the rear of the garage bay where i just parked. At first I thought it was my wife's Q5 that may have a rear ol leak since my spot had no leak. then i looked and have the same leak coming from the left rear bushing of my 2 bolt rear differential bushing... just like OP pictured. Fluid is thin but has a thicker black residue component, looking at the spill on the ground. It has no smell.



So I pull the upgraded Whoosh bolt. It and the metallic center part of the bushing are bone dry. The back of the bushing mated to the diff cover is dry. the entire diff cover is dry.




Question is, where is this fluid coming from if not the bushing? I am not even sure its oil because the spots it left have dried up and did not leave the usual oily splotches on concrete. Also today, drove to work and back. there is no further leaking so it leaked a very finite amount and stopped I would guess 30cc or so...

As a side note, the center metal part of the bushing looks deformed... it is no longer a complete circle. That is from the jxb insert which I am not a fan of and had removed a few months ago. It is deforming the end of the bushing where it makes contact. In any case, thinking the bushing is compromised, I put back that jxb insert on that side.

Thoughts?