Thread: Rear Diff gasket

Originally Posted by david7307

My Disco2 has just gone into the garage to have a gasket replaced in the Diff its the one on the bell housing, i thought it was the front seal but got the call to say the gasket had blown , thy tell me the axle will have to come out to fix it,so have no idea what i am going to face, as a cost to fix it

Gasket =Silicon ,maybe a 2 hour job tops if they are honest

I'm not sure what you mean by the diff in the bell housing. There is no diff in the bell housing.

The bell housing connects the engine to the gearbox and inside it is the torque converter (if auto) or the clutch (if a manual).

There are three diffs, one each in the front and rear axles and one in the transfer case.

Assuming the diff is in one of the axles, it's very easy to pull the diff on Land Rovers prior to the D2 (and P38A). The D2 (and P38A) require a little more work. Chris' estimate of time is probably close to the mark for a workshop with experience.

Where in Tassie are you located? If in Hobart, Justin Cooper is a recommended LR independent workshop.

Originally Posted by rangieman

Gasket =Silicon ,maybe a 2 hour job tops if they are honest

The axles will have to come out of each end so the can extract the diff from the housing where it's leaking , as the axles hold it in. Other wise how are they going to have every thing clean for the silastic to adhere.

Chris , I reckon it's more than 2 hours, remove wheels, remove the axles, unbolt the diff from housing, tail shaft etc and clean and silastic and refit everything.
Cheers,
Mario

Check the breather is not clogged.

If they remove the axles,the axle seals may need to be replaced as well.

Diff gaskets rarely give trouble unless the center has been removed and not replaced properly. "Blown" to me means a pinion seal or axle seal leaking from a blocked breather. If either of those then Mario's assesment of time and labourwill aply.
Cheers Scott

If it is leaking from the axle casing to differential then the "gasket" is STC3811, which is Hylomar 101 (Amine curing RTV silicone sealant - engineering grade).

It is possible to reseal this without completly removing the diff, at the front at least.

There is enough movement by replacing 4 of the bolts with longer ones that you only screw in 10-15mm, then remove all the others. This will allow you to pull the diff out just enough to clean the old sealant and then reseal with new sealant. It is a messy job, and the Hylomar skins fairly quickly so speed is required. Which is where it gets messy, at least with me doing it anyway.

Remember to use Loctite 243 on the bolt threads when you bolt it all back together, replacing the longer bolts with the correct bolts.

Mine has been leak free for 15,000km plus since doing this.