Front Diff Issue? - PhilD, you there?

[CO Hummer]

Hey Phil, Paragon, or anyone.

I just noticed some uh-ohs under my H2.

FIRST - I have a loose bolt and I'm wonder what is and how it could come loose.

SECOND - I got some major fluid around the front diff. But, I'm not sure if it's the diff or not.

Any input? Pics to follow below.....

[CO Hummer]

BOLT: Here's that bolt. It's come loose, about 1/3 of an inch of down from tight. How does this come lose? Indicative of another problem?

[CO Hummer]

DIFF: Looks like some leakage from the steering (top right), and probably the diff. Is this likely a major uh-oh, or just a seal, etc?

[CO Hummer]

.

[CO Hummer]

Help me doctor. Make it go away!

[timgco]

Alna, I have found this to be most common among the school bus/ taxi cab family. Front diff seals leak every now and than... also hapens on the rest of the colors too. My 03 looked like that at one point.

...off to the dealer you go. Since you have a nasty leak like that the internal stuff should be looked at just in case. You don't want your truck to end up like Adam's on Hells REvenge. JK.

Also, since they will be opening up our diff., have your fluids all changed out. It's about time anyhow if you haven't had them done yet.

I would feel confident to do this to my own rig, but I don't put enough miles on them to warrant the service.

[PARAGON]

Those two items might be tied to each other. That bolt the rear mount for your front diff. If it is allowing the diff to move, you probably have tweaked the front diff some.

FWIW, mine looks similar but is not loose. There is a rubber bushing above and below that plate.

Maybe the leak is just a seal due to the tweaked diff, but you have a lot of fluid at the center, where the halves to come together and I haven't seen a seal leak to over there.

Chances are you have a seal on the DS leaking and also the halves are leaking where they join. They don't have a gasket and are just milled and bolted together. With the diff being alum. it's pretty easy to torque it. There are instances where the front diffs have cracked.

I had my front diff case replaced under warranty because they could not get the leak to stop at where the 2 halves bolt.

What makes the bolt come loose? They're bolts on an H2.... the come loose. I had front suspension bolts loosen on the way to Moab, I'll find an occasional bolt loosed up a bit now and then. It's just the torquing of the body and frame from being off-road, I guess.

[PARAGON]

Looking at that first pic of the leak, it looks like it could all be from the DS seal.

If you are still under warranty, take it in. If not, clean off that diff good and check the fluid in the front. Make sure to fill it. That way you find some clean fluid after running it a while and figure out where it's coming from.

Tighten up that bolt. There's a nut on top. Probably an 18mm or something along those lines.

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by PARAGON

Chances are you have a seal on the DS leaking and also the halves are leaking where they join.

......

Looking at that first pic of the leak, it looks like it could all be from the DS seal.

If not, clean off that diff good and check the fluid in the front. Make sure to fill it.

PARAGON,
Thanks for your help!! Now, a couple of questions.

(1) What the heck is a "DS"?
(2) How do I fill it? Top thing marked with red arrow? How do you know when it's full? How much to fill it).
(3) What brand/type of fluid do I need?

[PARAGON]

DS = Driver's Side

Yep, that's the check/fill plug. The other is the drain. Fill to the edge of that hole (a little is likely to run out)

It's in your Owner's manual but something like 80W Synthetic Oil

[PARAGON]

Wait and see what Phil says. It's probably worth it to drain all the front diff fluid and replace it with all new.

[CO Hummer]

I checked the bolts on the diff and tried to tighten them (from the PS ). The one near the rear tightened about 1/4 turn. The other were very tight and I didn't apply any more torque. That might do it!

I'm gonna wash it off, then top off the fluid. I'll see if it continues to leak. I just had the fluid changed in my diffs this spring. Man I feel like an idiot because it looks so simple to do myself.

[CO Hummer]

Ok,
I power washed the diff. It looks so clean I think I could sell it on eBay as new.

Owner's manual say to put SAE75W-90 oil in there. All WalMart has was this SAE80W-90.

Is this OK to put in there?

[CO Hummer]

Thanks Phil.

I was going to use the "220, 221 whatever it takes" philosophy, but I held off and didn't put any of the 80W in. I'm gonna get some Royal Purple.

The diff is so clean that I could eat off it right now.

[Big Z]

A lot of it looks like Engine Oil!----Is the Skid Plate removed when the Oil is Changed?

Cleaner Leakage!

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by Big Z

A lot of it looks like Engine Oil!----Is the Skid Plate removed when the Oil is Changed?

Cleaner Leakage!

No. I take it to Jiffy/Retard Lube. Those idiots get oil all over place. That a good point, Z. It's possible that it's leakage from the oil change. I'll be monitoring it. Maybe I should set up a diff cam.

[Big Z]

Originally Posted by CO Hummer

No. I take it to Jiffy/Retard Lube. Those idiots get oil all over place. That a good point, Z. It's possible that it's leakage from the oil change. I'll be monitoring it. Maybe I should set up a diff cam.

Happened with the Very First Oil change!--LOL..at the Jiffy Kids! Removing the oil filter, the oil spills/drips, pools, and....Just Made a big A$$ mess!

Phill put you on the right track! You'll know soon enough!