Rear diff leaking

C25A1guy · 11-10-2012, 10:53 PM

So, I changed my oil today, and while doing so I was doing some general inspections on the RL. Couple of small items, no biggie initally (a/c fan on the rad had both bolts go missing, front control arm bushings barely starting to tear. Then I got to the rear. Oh no, the rear diff is leaking. It's not major (never had a drop on the ground where I park), but it's wet for sure. Look into it closely to see if I can see where the leak was coming from. Input shaft is dry, axle seals are still good and dry. It seems to be leaking from the seal between the center carrier where the clutches are (when looking at the VTM-4 cutaway diagram). I'm assuming that this is probably a silicone seal and now at 130k, it's starting to seep though finally. Now, what I want to know is if anybody else has had the same leak and if I can just drop that diff, open it up and just reseal it with a nice bead of Hondabond. Thus far, I haven't been able to find anything in Alldata, and on the Honda parts diagrams, there's no individual parts for the internals for sale, just the complete diff and a complete assembly. So, has anybody ever torn these things down and resealed them up or am I assed out of a few grand getting a whole new rear end?

Ourfarm09 · 11-11-2012, 06:26 AM

I seem to remember seeing on here the same issue about not being able to find a break down of the VTM itself. However there has to be a way to take it apart and reseal it. Being an automotive technician and if it were mine you can bet I would be taking it apart.

C25A1guy · 11-12-2012, 10:08 AM

Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm thinking, however I don't exactly want to be the guinea pig either

Ourfarm09 · 11-12-2012, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C25A1guy

Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm thinking, however I don't exactly want to be the guinea pig either

Awh, that's no fun.

C25A1guy · 11-12-2012, 12:51 PM

Well, the issue really is more so since the truck is my daily driver, it's hard for me to have extended downtime with it if I were to do this on my own. So, unless I have a spare diff that I can throw in there, I'm kinda assed out unless I can find out if this can be done with success.

Chopper · 11-12-2012, 02:02 PM

JMHO but I would clean it REALLY good and just monitor it. You can easily check the fluid level and top it off as needed. Right now, with it just appearing to be "wet" with no dripping evident it's just not worth spending $$$ on resealing it. Again, this is JMHO but with that many miles minor leaks here and there will crop up. Just a fact of life...

C25A1guy · 11-16-2012, 11:03 AM

OK, so I sprayed as much of the unit as I could with some brake cleaner (get all the gunk and oil off). Looks like it's either coming from the input seal or from up top (leaking breather?)

Ourfarm09 · 11-16-2012, 05:48 PM

Could be. Check and make sure the breather isn't plugged.

11-10-2012, 10:53 PM	#1
C25A1guy ROC Rank: Senior 2006 RTL White / Olive Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 604	Rear diff leaking So, I changed my oil today, and while doing so I was doing some general inspections on the RL. Couple of small items, no biggie initally (a/c fan on the rad had both bolts go missing, front control arm bushings barely starting to tear. Then I got to the rear. Oh no, the rear diff is leaking. It's not major (never had a drop on the ground where I park), but it's wet for sure. Look into it closely to see if I can see where the leak was coming from. Input shaft is dry, axle seals are still good and dry. It seems to be leaking from the seal between the center carrier where the clutches are (when looking at the VTM-4 cutaway diagram). I'm assuming that this is probably a silicone seal and now at 130k, it's starting to seep though finally. Now, what I want to know is if anybody else has had the same leak and if I can just drop that diff, open it up and just reseal it with a nice bead of Hondabond. Thus far, I haven't been able to find anything in Alldata, and on the Honda parts diagrams, there's no individual parts for the internals for sale, just the complete diff and a complete assembly. So, has anybody ever torn these things down and resealed them up or am I assed out of a few grand getting a whole new rear end? __________________ 2002 Acura RSX: Time Attack race car 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL (silver): Dead at 6,000 miles 2005 Honda Civic: H/U, Amps, Sub, Eibach Pro-Kit springs, Tokico HP dampers, 18" SSR Competition wheels 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL (white): AEM Brute Force Intake, Buddy Club Race Spec Condensor, Pioneer AVIC-Z140BH, DLS UP63 componets, Oz Audio 6.5" co-axel, 2 10" Image Dynamics IDQ subs, Lunar Amps, Boyo reverse camera

11-11-2012, 06:26 AM	#2
Ourfarm09 ROC Rank: 3k Comma Club 2011 RTS Bali Blue Pearl Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fleming, Georgia Posts: 3,896	Re: Rear diff leaking I seem to remember seeing on here the same issue about not being able to find a break down of the VTM itself. However there has to be a way to take it apart and reseal it. Being an automotive technician and if it were mine you can bet I would be taking it apart. __________________ aka Ron U.S. Army (retired) , ASE Certified AVS ventvisors, ROC decal,

11-12-2012, 10:08 AM	#3
C25A1guy ROC Rank: Senior 2006 RTL White / Olive Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 604	Re: Rear diff leaking Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm thinking, however I don't exactly want to be the guinea pig either __________________ 2002 Acura RSX: Time Attack race car 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL (silver): Dead at 6,000 miles 2005 Honda Civic: H/U, Amps, Sub, Eibach Pro-Kit springs, Tokico HP dampers, 18" SSR Competition wheels 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL (white): AEM Brute Force Intake, Buddy Club Race Spec Condensor, Pioneer AVIC-Z140BH, DLS UP63 componets, Oz Audio 6.5" co-axel, 2 10" Image Dynamics IDQ subs, Lunar Amps, Boyo reverse camera

11-12-2012, 12:51 PM	#5
C25A1guy ROC Rank: Senior 2006 RTL White / Olive Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 604	Re: Rear diff leaking Well, the issue really is more so since the truck is my daily driver, it's hard for me to have extended downtime with it if I were to do this on my own. So, unless I have a spare diff that I can throw in there, I'm kinda assed out unless I can find out if this can be done with success. __________________ 2002 Acura RSX: Time Attack race car 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL (silver): Dead at 6,000 miles 2005 Honda Civic: H/U, Amps, Sub, Eibach Pro-Kit springs, Tokico HP dampers, 18" SSR Competition wheels 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL (white): AEM Brute Force Intake, Buddy Club Race Spec Condensor, Pioneer AVIC-Z140BH, DLS UP63 componets, Oz Audio 6.5" co-axel, 2 10" Image Dynamics IDQ subs, Lunar Amps, Boyo reverse camera

11-12-2012, 02:02 PM	#6
Chopper ROC Rank: Freshman 2007 RTS Steel Blue Metallic Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 41	Re: Rear diff leaking JMHO but I would clean it REALLY good and just monitor it. You can easily check the fluid level and top it off as needed. Right now, with it just appearing to be "wet" with no dripping evident it's just not worth spending $$$ on resealing it. Again, this is JMHO but with that many miles minor leaks here and there will crop up. Just a fact of life...

11-16-2012, 11:03 AM	#7
C25A1guy ROC Rank: Senior 2006 RTL White / Olive Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 604	Re: Rear diff leaking OK, so I sprayed as much of the unit as I could with some brake cleaner (get all the gunk and oil off). Looks like it's either coming from the input seal or from up top (leaking breather?) __________________ 2002 Acura RSX: Time Attack race car 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL (silver): Dead at 6,000 miles 2005 Honda Civic: H/U, Amps, Sub, Eibach Pro-Kit springs, Tokico HP dampers, 18" SSR Competition wheels 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL (white): AEM Brute Force Intake, Buddy Club Race Spec Condensor, Pioneer AVIC-Z140BH, DLS UP63 componets, Oz Audio 6.5" co-axel, 2 10" Image Dynamics IDQ subs, Lunar Amps, Boyo reverse camera

11-16-2012, 05:48 PM	#8
Ourfarm09 ROC Rank: 3k Comma Club 2011 RTS Bali Blue Pearl Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fleming, Georgia Posts: 3,896	Re: Rear diff leaking Could be. Check and make sure the breather isn't plugged. __________________ aka Ron U.S. Army (retired) , ASE Certified AVS ventvisors, ROC decal,

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