Rear axle seal job questions

Jeremy_K · Post by **Jeremy_K** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:17 am

I've just realized my 03 AWD Vibe has leaky axle seals on both sides. I've found the service procedure pdf but it doesn't have any part numbers. What part number is the seal where the rear axle goes into the rear diff.? Will I need to buy new CV shafts? Any other part numbers I may need to be replacing? I'm just trying to get a shopping list together. I did a search on here and have found limited info. Thanks!

Jeremy_K · Post by **Jeremy_K** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:51 am

Anyone? I tried Napa and they didn't list a replacement part.

ehoff121 · Post by **ehoff121** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:13 pm

Quote, originally posted by Jeremy_K Â»I've just realized my 03 AWD Vibe has leaky axle seals on both sides. I've found the service procedure pdf but it doesn't have any part numbers.I would start here for part numbers: http://www.gmpartseast.com/Pag...Year=Not a mechanic, but would guess that you could just replace the seals and gear oil without replacing the CV shafts.

Jeremy_K · Post by **Jeremy_K** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:55 am

Excellent, thank you!

04shadowvibe · Post by **04shadowvibe** » Sun Dec 25, 2011 9:04 am

jeremy_k did you order these seals and replace them yet? i need to do the same job on my 06.

455SD · Post by **455SD** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:11 am

The part # you need for the rear axle seals should be 19205350, unless there is a difference in Model Year for first generation Vibes. This was what I got for my '03 AWD Vibe. My local Chevrolet Dealer sold them to me at Jobber pricing for 21.53 each. They retail for 28.70. I have yet to install them, do to cold weather, and the fact that mine are just at the "weeping" stage. I plan on getting them in this spring, or if we get a warm spell between now and then. Hope this helps.

04shadowvibe · Post by **04shadowvibe** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:05 am

thanks 455sd, i just got the seals myself from toyota online, part number 90311-42046 for around 8 bucks each. I also got new gaskets for the drain and fill plug, part number 1257-10010 for under a buck each. I also found the service manual online and put together all the steps i need. I plan on doing it towards the end of the month, lucky i have a heated workspace.

04shadowvibe · Post by **04shadowvibe** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:09 pm

455sd, how many miles are on your awd? im at almost 70k, they were replaced once at 36k.

TONY TAT2 · Post by **TONY TAT2** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:50 pm

I would carefuilly check the axle surface,if theres any grove in it where the seals ride,it will keep wipen out the seals.

04shadowvibe · Post by **04shadowvibe** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:44 pm

Quote, originally posted by TONY TAT2 Â»I would carefuilly check the axle surface,if theres any grove in it where the seals ride,it will keep wipen out the seals.Thats what I am thinking and i plan on checking the axle shafts for sure. Being here in the NorthEast, we have enough salt on our road at the moment that its pretty much like driving on marbles, and i see they resalted it again this am.

455SD · Post by **455SD** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 1:09 pm

WE have just over 108,000 on the AWD, and we bought it with 97,000 on it, and no leak was present at the time of purchase. Since it is just a damp "weep", it is possible that they were leaking and cleaned off prior to my purchase.Glad to see you got the price you did on your parts.

Salsa Guy · Post by **Salsa Guy** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 3:55 am

Even if it's just "weeping" check your fluid level often. If it goes low and you fry the rear diff the repair becomes 100 X more expensive.

04shadowvibe · Post by **04shadowvibe** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:00 am

455sd, whenever posible i just get the Toyota part for the Vibe, GM seems to enjoy marking it up if i get it from them when its the same part in a GM bag. I really want to get that part number info out here cause it seems hard to find it here on the site. Salsa Guy, i been adding fluid often, infact the whole bottom of the muffler is covered in dirty oil and it even gets sucked up on the rear hatch and bumper cover. I really hope the rearend hasnt been harmed yet. How would i know for sure if it is? I hope this is the last fix on this for me but being that GM has no small AWD anymore ill just keep fixing this Vibe if it keeps it up.

Salsa Guy · Post by **Salsa Guy** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:06 am

Quote, originally posted by 04shadowvibe Â»Salsa Guy, i been adding fluid often, infact the whole bottom of the muffler is covered in dirty oil and it even gets sucked up on the rear hatch and bumper cover. I really hope the rearend hasnt been harmed yet. How would i know for sure if it is? I hope this is the last fix on this for me but being that GM has no small AWD anymore ill just keep fixing this Vibe if it keeps it up.It will start whinning, from what I understand. Sounds like you have it under control. Also although is has an AWD and Pontiac badge it's really 4WD and a Toyota Matrix and they still make them....for now.

04shadowvibe · Post by **04shadowvibe** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:55 am

I dont think its winning, its my sisters car I just do all her service on it and she has never said it was winning. I hope its ok. Guess Ill take it for a drive and see before i start the seal replacement.

04shadowvibe · Post by **04shadowvibe** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:17 am

Im working on this job now and I cant get the 2 lower a-arm bolts out and sofar im havin a hell of a time getting the axle to pop out from the diff. I am leaving the axle connected to the brake drum and just letting the assembly hang from the lower a-arm.

Vaggeto · Post by **Vaggeto** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 2:42 am

Any update on this?Both of mine on my 2003 are leaking as well. Very slight though. After 9 months of seeping/leaking the level of rear differential fluid is still good. (According to the Toyota dealership as of Saturday anyway)I'm trying to figure out if it's 100% needed to go thr route of wheel, brakes, then axel or if there's a shortcut.Thanks!

Vaggeto · Post by **Vaggeto** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:10 am

A friend of mine looked at a couple pictures I took and thought it may be possible to disconnect the control arm, and "swing" the whole wheel assembly outwards slightly as I remove the axle.This would avoid removing the entire wheel and brake assembly. Does anyone have any experience or know if this is possible?

Salsa Guy · Post by **Salsa Guy** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 12:18 pm

My Mechanic did it with parts for less than $200.

Vaggeto · Post by **Vaggeto** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 2:52 pm

Interesting... I wonder if he did it the way I mentioned above. I've had two places, both dealerships say it was about $600.Did he do both seals or just one side?

Salsa Guy · Post by **Salsa Guy** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:44 am

04shadowvibe · Post by **04shadowvibe** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:26 am

yes you can leave the brakes on the knuckle and remove 3 bolts from the control arms and swing the knuckle and shafts out of the way to replace the seals. I did mine without taking the brakes off.

455SD · Post by **455SD** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:13 am

Did you have any difficulties in removing the bolts from the control arms.....as in, were they seized up, and if so, how did you remove?Thanks in advance

Vaggeto · Post by **Vaggeto** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:29 am

Awesome, thank you so much for this and your other thread!

04shadowvibe · Post by **04shadowvibe** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:37 pm

455SD wrote:Did you have any difficulties in removing the bolts from the control arms.....as in, were they seized up, and if so, how did you remove?Thanks in advance

Mine were seized up, a few hours of using an air chisel on them and lots of ZEP penetrating oil I got them out. The hammering action from the air chisel also broke a tab on my lower control arm so I had to replace it also. Lots of fun!

Rear axle seal job questions

Rear axle seal job questions

Re: Rear axle seal job questions (Jeremy_K)

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Re: Rear axle seal job questions (ehoff121)

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Re: Rear axle seal job questions (TONY TAT2)

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