Suzuki Grand Vitara Gear oil being vented out rear diff

[deeksofdoom]

My crock of **** Suzuki Grand Vitara has come up with another clanger of a problem.

 

There is gear oil dripping from the rear axel, the cause of this is a gear oil coming out the breather/vent near the rear diff.

 

Any ideas what is causing this, had it at the mechanics today for a service and he is checking it out for me, but i though aybe someone on here may have experience of the same problem.

 

[TONY R]

Some thing in the rear axle be it--diff / diff bearings rear half shaft bearings whatever --- is getting hot

Now it could be the oil in the axle has got contaminated by water some how perhaps if you have been wading or if its been stuck in water overnight something of this sort, First thing is look at the oil whats it look like if it has water in its oil when it comes out, you need to flush out the axle carefully which is not that easy without dismantlling the axle.

You may get away with fresh oil after the clean but its not a guarantee, the damage could have allready been done.

If the oil is fine no water contamination, then its a bearing or bearings or friction some where thasts causing overheating all axles get hot but yours is overheating due to one or both of the two problems i have mentioned.

Edited March 11, 2016 by TONY R

[deeksofdoom]

Thanks Tony, sounds like this is going to cost a fortune.

[TONY R]

Well sadly it is and these are the only things it can be realisticaly, you need to look at the oil first if its got water in you should more or less resign yourself to a long term expense and thats if a clean out (not an easy task to do this right) and new oil sorts out the problem short term.

You will be very lucky if you get away with out at least one bearing going down.

Now on the other hand if you have just oil in there no contamination from water ingress , you might just need half shaft bearings which is the best case scenario for you , or it could be the diff thats not so good.

Other option probably the best option for you on this car is a replacement second hand axle.

But first look at the oil take it from there.

Just one last thought here, is tthis axle noisey i susspect it will be, but if its fine, look at the breather pipe itself make sure iys not cinked fractured or blocked in anyway, if its only partialy obstructed its not guaranteed to force oil out of the half shafts or diff nose it could vent from the breather tube and this will solve your problem if the breather is replaced or cleared.

But i think the latter scenario is a long shot myself and its one of the first two options, but worth checking all the same good luck with this.

[deeksofdoom]

Hi Tony,

 

Whining noise coming from the back thought it was the drum brakes, but they seem to sqeal when breaking too? could that be it?

[TONY R]

Sounds like the damage is well under way, another axle mate, just start looking ebay might throw something up or any wreckers / suzuki breakers in your area. Not being a scare munger either when i say this, but if the axle siezes up when you are traveling up the road the car will at best go out of control at worse roll over.

Many will say this wont happen but it will never mind how many vans you see running around with growling rear axles it wants sorting out in my oppinion sooner rather than latter.