Chevrolet Cobalt Service & Repair Manual: Drive Axle Assembly Leak, Inspection
| A visual inspection must always
be performed to confirm the presence of aftermarket components, potential
collision damage, or areas of concern. |
| A rear-axle oil leak is easy to
miss. The axle works normally until it suddenly seizes up, the expensive
and possibly dangerous result of it running dry of oil. |
| The clearest sign of a leak is
oil on the ground under the vehicle. Oil leaks from the hub oil seals of
a live rear axle, may also leave traces on the inner surfaces of the wheels,
or even get into the brakes. |
| Always clean drive axle assembly
before starting the inspection. The origination of a leak can be narrowed
down considerably during cleaning. |
| Axle oil is thick when cold and
unlikely to drip out of a very small opening, but it flows freely when warm
after a run. Any drip marks will probably be where you first parked the
car after returning from a run. Within an hour the oil thickens as it cools
and stops dripping. |
| You should also inspect the oil
level, generally every 6,000 miles. |
| Some vehicles have "sealed for
life" axles whose oil never needs changing. These axles do not have a drain
plug. But they, too, can leak and need refilling, which is done through
the plug hole by which they were filled originally. |
| 1. |
Drive vehicle until axle reaches operating
temperature. |
| 2. |
Raise and support vehicle using a suitable
lift. |
| 3. |
Inspect axle vent or vent tube for
leakage. Minor seepage around this area is normal. |
| 4. |
Inspect drain plug for leakage if equipped. |
| 5. |
Inspect fill plug for leakage. |
| 6. |
Inspect differential housing cover
gasket area for leakage. |
| 7. |
Inspect pinion yoke oil seal for leakage. |
| 8. |
Inspect for axle housing porosity. |
| 9. |
On models equipped with independent
rear suspension, inspect axle shaft oil seals for leakage. |
| 10. |
On models without independent rear
suspension, proceed as follows: |
| |
a. |
Inspect axle tube to differential carrier
housing joint for leakage. |
| |
b. |
Remove wheel and tire assemblies. |
| |
c. |
Inspect axle shaft oil seal for leakage.
Wheels or brake components may show signs of contamination. |
| 11. |
On all models, once leak has
been detected repair system as required. |
|
Disassembly
When pinion gears are removed,
place final drive carrier into a clean transmission oil pan in order to
prevent losing needle bearings.
1.
...
See also:
Chevrolet Cobalt Service & Repair Manual. Wheel, Replace
Removal
Caution: Never use heat to
loosen a tight wheel. This can shorten the life of wheel and damage wheel
bearings.
Wear approved safety glasses when
performing the following service procedures.
Do not use power grinders to clean
any of the brake ...
Differential, Overhaul
Electrical