Triumph Repair: Leaking diff, teaspoon tablespoon, retainer plate

Question
Hi! This regards a '73 (USA) Spit.  Last fall my left rear axle flange shattered (see note back in 11/04), which prompted me to do a good bit of work on the rear suspension (new leaf spring, new UJs, new Spax shocks).  I did finally discover what the knocking noise was after the rebuild BTW - the frame piece to which the right rear radius arm bracket is bolted needed some welding repair (cracks, etc.)  Anyway, I have had some leaking from the the left axle stub on the diff since the flange incident.  I ended up replacing the left oil seal retainer during the rebuild (it had been chewed up a little bit when the flange broke) with a used one, and had the bearings and oil seal replaced at the same time that the new retainer was pressed onto my old stub axle.  Unfortunately, it still continued to leak (I get about a teaspoon-tablespoon of diff oil under my car after I drive each time.  It looks like the oil is seeping between the diff mating face and the oil seal retainer face.  What can I do to stop this darn leak?!  Can I cut a gasket and insert between the diff body and the oil seal retainer plate?  Could oil be leaking out one of the retainer screws (I did have to do a helicoil repair on the lower right screw hole after the flange shattering incident).  Also, I did make sure my breather pin was unobstructed and loose. It's not he end of the world, but I'd really like to stop the leakage.  Thanks!

Answer
Steve,

From the factory there was no gasket between the differential casing and the oil seal housing plate.  I suspect the paint on the differential unit might have helped a bit.. ;)

You'd probably do better to drain the differential, remove the stub axle, clean all the surfaces with an oil/grease remover (I like lacquer thinner but it isn't good to breath the fumes!).

Then seal the plate to the casing using either RTV silicone or Permatex Hylomar gasket seal.

It is possible that the oil is leaking from the retaining bolts (ok, allen head cap screws) also.  You can seal them in place with the RTV or Hylomar also.

Try that, and then give the differential a good external cleaning.. take a short drive and jack the car up and look to see where oil might be leaking from.


Cheers,

Jim