O-Ring Fell Out During Diff Oil Change

Sure doesn’t look like one in the photo. The o-ring is on the outside of the axle assembly and goes around the cast in lip that the bearing rides on. Essentially being sandwiched by the bearing and housing with no way to make it into the diff.

 

Oh, it is definitely not a "round" section O-ring, or a part of the pinion seal, as mentioned it would never make it through the bearing. Breaking off the axel seal in such a picture-perfect condition is low on the possibility list too; but has to be considered. I was going to mention earlier all the people who report metal in their first diff oil change, but decided I did not wish to open another can of worms. A piece of rubber left over is of no concern, unless it is a part of an axel seal.

It would be great if someone had an axel seal and measured the diameter of the inner area and supplied that to the OP and he could see if the parts measure up.

Your picture supplied in post #18 is what I was referring to in my post #4. Glad you found it.

 

You'll find out real quick, like within a few hundred miles of driving if the part was needed or not.

 

Inner diameter of a wheel seal is about 2.25”. So there is a start for measuring. Hard to say what it could be, the appearance of that part just doesn’t match anything I can think of in the entire rear axle assembly. If a piece of a seal did break off, I’d think gear oil would be leaking out rather quickly.

 

I agree there is no way the hub assembly o ring could get inside the axle tube and make its way to the pumpkin.

 

How many miles are on it?

What's the diameter of that piece...assuming it's round....maybe part of the oil seal that migrated into the diff?
Is there oil leaking at the brake backing plate?

 

If it's the o-ring that goes between the outer flange and the brake backing plate, it would sit on the outside of the flange lip so there would no way it could migrate into the diff. Perhaps it was there since manufacture.

 

Ok, the OP now has the information to make a determination. In any case it has not damaged the diff gears or bearings.

 

163k miles. This is my second rear diff fluid change. First one was quite normal.

I didn't drive it today, and I won't drive it tomorrow. It's too nice to not take the motorcycle to work.

 

My rear end locked up this morning. The dealer wants 3200 to replace the rear axle seal and all the associated parts on the passenger side.

That MAY have been an important o-ring.

More to come once they tear into it.

 

Wow, an interesting turn of events. Keep us posted

 

Agreed also. I’ve been back there a lot and that rubber piece that came out is extra. It could be some RTV gasket maybe?

they want HOW MUCH? so was it low on fluid or was it fine when you drained? Looks like someone put that in there on purpose honestly. Very sad if so.

 

I'm the only one that ever changed the diff fluid. I never used RTV or put anything other than the appropriate diff oil into the rear end. I drained 3 to 4 liters of oil out of the diff before putting in fluid up to the bottom of the fill hole. The only thing I could think is that the suction from the gallon of fluid sucking out the bottom of the diff pulled the oring from its seat.

 

Why go dealer to fix rear axle? You did not find any outside shops do rearend work?

 

Why go to the dealer when you're so far outside of warranty? You could've gotten complete axle assys from salvage yards for less thru Car-part.com.

 

From my experience it's very difficult to find a competent axle/diff mechanic. Find a reputable shop with good reviews. It doesn't have to be a dealer.

Also, do frequent fluid changes after a few hundred miles. You'd be surprised how much debris is floating around after a rebuild.

Last time I paid to have an axle rebuilt at a dealer it was around 2500 with labor. (4th gen ls1 Camaro.) I could have bought a whole new aftermarket axle for that from moser or strange engineering.

 

People crash these trucks every day, you can get a replacement axle assembly much cheaper than what the dealer quoted for the repair.

 

Thank you all for trying to so desperatly protect my paycheck. I most sincerely appreciate it.

I need it fixed now, not after I pull an axle from a junk yard and spend half a weekend messing with it.