hi - went to the dealer and they took me under the car to show me a leak in the left output shaft...they are recommending part number C2A1417 (JLM20249) which looks like the whole entire output shaft...my question is, can i just have my mechanic (not the dealer) just replace the seals...i also read on the forum that it could be a breaher screen on the differential that is plugged and causing a leak on the output shaft seal...if you are interested the job from the dealer, parts and labor, was quoted at $1,460. i am hoping to be able to buy a few seals and have my mechanic do it for a few hundred...any ideas? comments? also now that it leaks how much time to do i have before things get worse back there...

 

Try the breather first. Motorcarman says this fixes the problem most of the time.

What happens is the breather gets clogged. The differential gets hot. The pressure builds up and pushes lubricant past the seals.

Timewise, it is asap if you value a quiet differential, but it is not yet dangerous to drive if you have not heard it yet.

And when you get it out, please measure the thread size for me.

 

how easy is it getting to the breather...i am wondering if i can do it myself...

 

Should be pretty easy. 14mm wrench. Top right of the differential cover above and to the right of the fill plug. Some people say it is easier to get to from the right rear wheel well after the tire has been removed than from underneath.

Or, ask the shop how much to refill the diff and they will probably do the breather as part of the job.

Please measure the thread

 

I would check the fluid level and clean the breather before doing anything expensive. That may fix the problem and you will know how much fluid is leaking.

I have seen many Jaguar rears sweat oil without any real loss of fluid.


Obviously you don't want to operate the car with an actual leak -- but having to top off the fluid once a year may be the way to go.

 

Plumsauce

The breather is 1/8 BSP (28 TPI)

U.S. 1/8 pipe is 27 TPI so the threads will not line up correctly.

Do you want me to send you and old one??
You can just buy a new one as they are about $14.00 if I remember and then you will have an old one.

bob gauff

 

I am pretty sure that your previous kind answer is correct. Especially since that G on your thread gauge apparently stands for "gas" in the original German spec. The dealers here treat it as special order and have no stock to measure.

Just having the usual OCD moment because crawling underneath is no fun and hunting for fittings in BSP around here is like finding hen's teeth in gold.

 

hi all - here is a nice pic from the EPC that is helping me on this jounrney...now that i can visulaize where the breather is...it will make the job easier for me...might be a good reference for someone else

 

I was about to crawl under my new aquisition ('03 xj8) to check it (staving off potential problems y'know) and this will save a bit of fumbling.

 

Here is a pic of an old and a new diff breather/vent

bob gauff

 

Is the breather cleanable? Or must you replace it?

 

I took mine apart and cleaned it. Motorcarman saved me some time and money. I thought it was a bad pinion seal causing my leak, but I removed the vent and tried to blow through it (from the inside- out) and I couldnt. After prying off the cap and cleaning the diaphragm and spring and putting it all back together, I could blow through it. It would have probably been easier to buy a $14 part, but it seriously took about 15 minutes total with the car on the lift.

 

hey plumsauce -the thread is 9mm across and 8mm from top of the thread to the bottom of the thread...i wasn't sure which was you wanted me to measure it..

also i checked my differnetial breather, took it out and it was in mint condition, so i clogged breather is not my problem...i also took more pics of the area and i am wondering if maybe i dont' have a leak and maybe just the last time it was filled someone made a mess...see all the pics and let me know the assessment, i also attachwed a pic with a red circle around the breather so any of you who want to check it can see where it is...it is hard to get to and i had to extend my arm all the way under and contort it to get to the breather...worked ok...took about 15 mins to take it out look at it and put it back in...

 

How do you *know* the breather is not clogged. The originals have a rubber spring loaded disc intended to act as a one way valve. Did you blow through it?

Picture number 5, what orientation is that? There is are two visible cracks. Maybe that is the source of your leak. Especially if the staining is downwind/below the dirtier larger crack.

If you think that the mess is from sloppiness, refill the diff since it may be low anyways. Clean off the diff. Check the diff level and diff cleanliness in a week or two.

 

hey plumsauce...i was able to blow through the breather no problem...i don't think that is a crack in pic 5...the picture is sideways and taken from the driver side wheel well...i like the idea about filling the diff, i think i am going to start there...i did try cleaning up the grease, but it is pretty baked in there, with lots of dirt...i am hoping my mechanic can double check it in the new week or so...

 

just get a spray bomb of engine degreaser.