Rear axle replacement for 1992 L300?

[flyaway]

Hello D-world
My van developped a leak in the rear differential (?) very recently. I hoped it's just some seal leaking, but had my mechanic (who has done some work on the van before, but is in no way a Delica specialist) look at it. They said that in their opinion, the rear axle is rusting through, and thus differential (?) fluid is leaking through rust holes, and should be replaced.

3 questions, if anybody would be so kind as to answer them/ direct me to appropriate websites:
- for somebody who has no idea what these parts are (=me), is there a way to look at it myself without pulling things apart to figure out if I really need to replace the whole axle, or if it's just a seal leak? By now I know a lot about engines but have absolutely no idea about the car body (and names for the various parts), and don't know where to start / what key words to google. I find the rear axle document on this site (L300 technicals) really hard to understand.

- if I find i need to replace the whole axle thing - where would I source one? What's the price range? The mec says it should be easy for them to install "new" one (a few hrs labour max), but I need to order the parts. Is this a common thing, that the axle is rusting through and needs to be replaced?

- how do I top up the fluid that's leaking? He said I need to watch for fluid levels, but I really dont know which ones and how


I'm also trying to sell the van due to not needing it anymore - due to new job I needed to get a small, fuel efficient commuter, so in case I don't fix it myself it would be good to know what to tell a prospective buyer.

Thank you so much!!!

[thedjjack]

sounds like the axle housing might be rusting through and starting to leak fluide... leaks would be in the metal and not around seals...it is just a housing the gears/bearings are in carriers..

options as I see it:

1) find a L300 wreck and buy the axle (make sure it has the same ratio as the one you have to match the front)... swap it in.... easy to do little effort used axle should not be worth much... lock for one with a limited slip... ratio is on the plate under drivers seat 4.88 common.

get this one:
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/nvn/pts/4482450459.html $65.00 few bolts and brake lines......pretty easy swap

2) look at the amount of rust on the current axle? drain and have a welder weld up new metal on it....

[thedjjack]

any mechanic rear axle is pretty standard part

[vernacular]

- how do I top up the fluid that's leaking? He said I need to watch for fluid levels, but I really dont know which ones and how

!

there's a 24mm nut on the rear of the diff housing halfway up it, this is the filler plug and you squirt diff oil in there until it starts dripping out that hole. here's mine .

diff.jpg (27.09 KiB) Viewed 4973 times

also, that area , the rear center bulge, is where it might be more likely to be rusty as the metal is much thinner there. i recommend getting a power washer / water blaster or just a wirebrush and clean the heck out of it and look for drips.

as for welding it up, you'd have to have it removed, cleaned out of oil, welded, and reinstalled , probably cheaper and longer lasting to get a second hand one if you can find a good one the correct ratio. or get a crappy one with a good housing and get your internals swapped into it

[flyaway]

Thanks a lot, guys! This is super helpful. I haven't had time yet to work on it, and the craigslist link is gone. If the guy who comes by tomorrow doesn't buy the van, I'll work on it when back from holiday in a month.

...it's rusting and leaking close to where the wheel is attached towards the axle, not in the middle bulb (that part looks fine). Generally, the whole thing (axle housing?) doesn't look as pretty as vernacular's - those Alberta winters with all the salt on roads just wreak havoc on everything metal. I think it would be easiest to swap the whole thing, get a nice rust-free one from the coast.
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