C5 Corvette Rear Differential Leak Repair (Steps A-Z)

[@peterpan5120]

Always learn a ton from your videos. What impresses me the most is not just your knowledge base but also the methodical and meticulous application of your skill set. It's like having a professional tutor just for me. Delighted beyond words. Wishing you continue to prosper.

[@Toys4Life]

Oh man - that' a pretty generous statement - I appreciate it!!

[@keithp115]

As a C5 owner, I value the content and info from you guys. My top 3 C5 channels are Toys4Life C5, C&S Corvettes, and My Corvette Life. Without your videos, I would have literally spent thousands of dollars in repairs. Thanks a million!

[@Toys4Life]

Good choices - all excellent channels! Thank you!

[@BEY.007]

Trust me they are the top 3

[@IcTracers420]

Been following you for atleast a year now. My dad passed away about 2 years ago, and I'm blessed to carry on the legacy of his 01' convertible. Thank you for you care and time you take to make these helpful vids. Seriously learn so much every vid. Thanks Again.

[@Toys4Life]

I bet you think about your dad every time you get in the Corvette! Cars are just cars until you attach the memories, then they're much more. I appreciate the kind words, sir!

[@IcTracers420]

@Toys4Life C5 Every single time. Thanks for the vids to help me keep this 32,000 mile convertible on the road for many years to come 👍 Keep up the great work, guys like you remind me of my dad. #chevy4life

[@grahamfrost2480]

A lot more involved in that job than I'd originally thought. It be must satisfying when you're that confident! I know I'd be a nervous reck!

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you sir!

[@bat5917]

Every episode gives me more confidence to perform work on my own.

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks - glad to hear!!

[@sudotux646]

I have a 02 zo6, and although it hasn’t leaked yet when it does I’ll make sure to reference this video. Great job explaining this job step by step.

[@Toys4Life]

Glad you liked it sir!

[@johnflo906]

Awesome how to video. Keep it coming! Love to see videos like this in case I need to replace things on my vette.

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you sir, I will try!

[@michaelgibbons8205]

Love all the great tips!!

[@icurt06]

I replaced the driver side half shaft on my 02 z06 last year. It's not too bad of a job. Just take your time. I didn't know there is a stud to remove on the differential cover. Good information to know!

[@Toys4Life]

Indeed, take your time, keep things clean and have a good torque wrench!

[@mouradmuhammad6163]

We Thank You learn a lot from you. Thank you.

[@Toys4Life]

Glad to hear that

[@Z06GT1]

Thank you very much for another excellent video. Your videos are very helpful.

[@Toys4Life]

Glad you like them!

[@fastclient1232]

Great video, informative and well put together. Quite the involved process.

[@Toys4Life]

Much appreciated!

[@mvg-1776]

Nice video. Just noticed a leak.

[@LIGHTNING351]

Awesome video..

[@basicdetail4512]

We love this kind of Corvette vidéo !! Well explain

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you!!

[@basicdetail4512]

@@Toys4Life by the way i Write you few week ago about exhaust bypass Mod you answer m'y question and i made the job ITs sound awesome thank

[@stephendibari5010]

Great video. I’m noticing an oily leak on my garage floor after driving my 99 hardtop. The leak is pretty much directly in the middle of the car under the rear axle/transmission. I’ve put down a shop towel on the floor to trace the location and how much is leaking. It’s very little now, its about 2 inches in diameter but needs attention next spring. I’m assuming this is the issue I’m having ? I’ll need to bring it to my mechanic/ shop who’s replaced my Harmonic balancer earlier this year. If this is the issue how many hours would a reputable repair shop charge for this repair? Also saw another video on a Manual Transmission Shift Module Oil Leak. Maybe this is the leak? Really cant tell until the car is on a lift. Thanks

[@Toys4Life]

If you live in Minnesota, let me know. You could call a dealership and ask what the flat rate is for the job. Then it really should be the flat rate times hours plus the hazardous fees and whatnot. If I'm plucking it from air I'm going to say about $500 but I'm usually low.

[@stephendibari5010]

@ I hear you. I’m not even close to Minnesota, I’m in Staten Island NY. My mechanic/shop is an honest as they come. I’ll bring it to him in the spring for look. His hourly rate is $120/hr the last time I was there in the spring when he did my harmonic balancer which was $990 cash. Appreciate the advice/feedback.

[@anthony2gsps596]

Any difference between this and a C6 3:42 Differential? I have a cracked drivers side cover on mine, which seems to be a known issue with this part. Trying to get the part is a nightmare as most yards I called all have the broken left side....Or buy the whole Diff. Besides some of the connections and parts the process should be the same I would think. BTW your videos are great and very informative

[@Toys4Life]

I believe they are different. There might be differences in the 05, 06-07, and 08 plus. Worth looking into. Can you have it tig welded?

[@anthony2gsps596]

@@Toys4Life it was cracked in half by the mounts. I have one coming to me soon as I got lucky from someone who was doing an upgrade to a z06. 😀. Thanks for reaching out. Love the channel!

[@Z06GT1]

You said that you did not want to use an impact wrench to remove the axle nut because it could damage the CV joint. You used a hammer to pound the axle out of the hub. Wouldn't that also possibly damage the CV joint? Wouldn't it be better to use a puller to do that? I learn from your videos and don't really understand this. Thank you.

[@Toys4Life]

Good question. It is just a precaution. Using a large socket wrench (that you already have) can easily remove the nut and it eliminates the jolting of the impact gun. It would be best to use a puller/pusher to remove the axle shaft but they are uncommon and so long as your not hitting it super hard the odds of damage are small. Hope this helps a little.

[@curtismuma1931]

Great video. You can make them longer. People will watch them

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you - much appreciated! Part of the problem is it does take quite a bit of time to do the work, record each step and edit. I have a regular job too so it is tough for me to make them as long as perhaps sometimes would be ideal for the topic.

[@jkalas9]

Hey there, little late discovering this video, but was curious… I’m fairly mechanically inclined but do NOT have access to a lift. Seems like this might be doable without one…? What do you think sir? Seems like lowering the exhaust would present the biggest issue. Just trying to get your take on whether this is doable on the garage floor with some jack stands. Thanks. 🤙🏼

[@Toys4Life]

Agreed, exhaust would be the biggest issue - I think it needs to come out which means getting the rear up quite high - not exactly sure how many inches - sorry.

[@jkalas9]

@@Toys4Life Thank you!! Much appreciated.

[@bartgalambos7123]

I bought Mobil 1 LS 75W90, and from what I understand it has the AC Delco differential LS additive is not necessary?

[@Toys4Life]

I believe that is true but put some in anyways to be 100% certain.

[@kevinescobedo259]

im stuck on the stud no matter what i do both nuts keep spinning, am i using the wrong nuts? ive gotten them to get stuck to each other but everytime i go to back it out it pushes the other nut out messing the threads up a bit, please send me the right nuts or adapter at this point 😅

[@Toys4Life]

Your stud must be really stuck to the diff. If both nuts have the correct thread - then they are correct. Did you lock the two nuts together first? May want to try heating the stud a bit. Good luck to you!

[@Glide1992]

Really good content. Great job.

[@Toys4Life]

Much appreciated!

[@travisarmstrong3229]

Liked and subscribed for obviousy reasons. Incredible video. One question here: whats the size of the diff cover to trans stud? I guess I could take the existing nut off and go match it to pick up a second. I have an m10x1.5 here at work I was going to bring home.

[@Toys4Life]

I don't recall exactly unfortunately. That sounds about right though.

[@markwest9447]

Great Content, well displayed 👍

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@zebmccollum]

Call me ignorant but why does the C5 have rear tie rods? I am not familiar at all with independent rear suspension setups, and tried googling for an answer. I guess I didn’t use the correct search terms.

[@Toys4Life]

You could call them links. Since it's a independent suspension and not a solid axle, these tie rods or links are used to hold the knuckle in place and allow for adjustability.

[@mwdunn3]

Great work and video.

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you!

[@exoticspeedefy7916]

Are those ride height sensors for AH or the F45 suspension package?

[@Toys4Life]

Suspension.

[@mitchalford595]

Can you please list the part numbers for the parts in the video? Axle nut Axle seal Sealant Sealant adhesion promoter? Cleaner

[@Toys4Life]

0:21 has most of them. Let me know if you are not able to make one of them out.

[@mitchalford595]

Mainly the axel seal itself. The bag is slightly scrunched up. Thank you!

[@ctvette1318]

Awesome video!

[@Toys4Life]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jb40now47]

Good job.

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@nachosilva3777]

Should I get a 99c5 or 2000-2004. I heard 97-99 have a module problem that its not available for replacement. Thanks

[@Toys4Life]

I would suggest 01-04. Here is more info in detail. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZOllaafgsSIZ5o

[@semdrag]

Great video!

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you!

[@kiwiguy4764]

One of the easiest vehicles to work on is my 01 Z06 why not do both other side is 18 yo too I'm guessing .But where do you stop , had radiator leak on my 97 Camaro decided might as well do water pump turned into opti spark turned into timing set only got 112k on car wish it was the Z06 but that only has 30k

[@Toys4Life]

Other side wasn't leaking, the driver side is known to kind of have a defect and it's more common to leak which is why you use the anaerobic sealer in addition to the o-ring. Passenger side was good to go as is.

[@raymondleathers5921]

What’s the part number on that exhaust gasket? I can never find a listing for those.

[@Toys4Life]

Napa - Part #: EXH 31537

[@hondamancl450]

Where should I get parts?could you leave part numbers if you still have them? thanks Dave

[@Toys4Life]

Hi, In the beginning of one of the videos, I took footage of all of the parts laying out. You can grab the part numbers off of that. Most I got from RockAuto in a couple from GM.

[@hondamancl450]

@Toys4Life C5 thank's very much great video after watching this I thank I might do job myself I appreciate this video🤜🤛👍

[@Toys4Life]

Glad you liked it sir, if you decide to proceed good luck with it, just take your time!!

[@hondamancl450]

@Toys4Life C5 on that treaded bolt when you put another nut on it what was threaded size of nut?

[@Toys4Life]

@@hondamancl450 That is the stud - right? I seem to recall taking the nut over to my metric nut/bolt bin and matching the nut to a bolt, then matching another nut to the same bolt. If you don't have such a bin, time to go to Menards or Home depot and match em up. Sorry I don't recall the exact thread dimensions - but 99% sure metric.

[@CuriousCynic]

How long should a reputable shop take to do this? Do you run a shop in the MN area?

[@Toys4Life]

It's like anything, if they do a lot of C5 work it would go quicker than if they rarely see C5's. (3-4 hours or so + gathering parts and supplies). Unfortunately, I do not have a shop - I just do side jobs from time to time.

[@edwardepps1513]

Yes this was the answer I was looking for. 3-4 hours of labor.

[@matthewboudreaux2693]

Thanks for making these. I always get something out of your videos. I think im about to have to do one on my 03. Do you do both sides or just the one that leaks?

[@Toys4Life]

I just do the one that leaks. There is very little duplication of effort if you had to do the other side later.

[@shirmworm]

Super vid!! Thanks!!!

[@Toys4Life]

Glad you liked it!

[@edwardepps1513]

About how long do you think it took to complete this job?

[@Toys4Life]

Not sure, monking around with the video equipment and making sure everything flows quadruples the time.

[@LuisHerreraunmexicanoenusa2024]

GRATE JOB

[@markwest9447]

What should a job like this cost?

[@Toys4Life]

Depends on what state you live in and if it is dealership or non-dealership. I am going to guess $500-$1k. Maybe someone else can chime in?

[@scottday2016]

Ty

[@Toys4Life]

Yr welcome 😁

[@davegregg1512]

Your pinned comment from Graham Frost? Word for word, DITTO!!!

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you!!

[@lasvegasbadboyz]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks!

[@philtroskey3454]

Sound in my rear end sounds like snow tires guess what it is already the wheel bearings

[@Toys4Life]

Could be - here is how to tell for sure and which one...kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHrFiWmVgL5jd7c

[@DigitalDissident]

+1

[@Toys4Life]

Ummm - Thanks!