[petro-nut]

Well i thought my rear end cover was leaking a tad bit but come to find out it's an axle tube leaking a little. What is a good fix for this? Clean it good and RTV silicone it? Some kind of JB Weld? I really don't want to weld it up as it can warp a tube. By the way it's a 12 bolt rear end.

 

[surfdog]

Axle tube leaking where? At the wheel side? Could need axle seals?

 

[petro-nut]

Sorry... it's where the tubes go into the cast pumpkin. Not leaking out where the wheels are.

 

[Baddbob]

When I do restoration work on these old 12 bolt housings I sandblast them, then shoot three coats of SPI epoxy, wait 12ish hours, then use 3M Ultrapro URETHANE seam sealer on the spot welds and housing around the tubes-not enough to even know it's there (judged cars) but enough to fill the void so it doesn't have a chance to leak, then one more coat of epoxy primer, then paint. They never leak. Epoxy primer and a quality urethane seam sealer is key. Epoxy primer is fuel and oil resistant.

 

[mpv72]

When I do restoration work on these old 12 bolt housings I sandblast them, then shoot three coats of SPI epoxy, wait 12ish hours, then use 3M Ultrapro URETHANE seam sealer on the spot welds and housing around the tubes-not enough to even know it's there (judged cars) but enough to fill the void so it doesn't have a chance to leak, then one more coat of epoxy primer, then paint. They never leak. Epoxy primer and a quality urethane seam sealer is key. Epoxy primer is fuel and oil resistant.

x2, at the pumpkin there is not much you can do. Factory didn't do full circumference welds, only plug wit interference fit. if not show then carefully weld the circumference careful not to warp the assembly.

 

[petro-nut]

Think the 3M Ultrapro URETHANE seam sealer would hold up to rear end fluid? I might just try RTV silicone. I figure i would check the vent tube and make sure it's clean and drain fluid and clean up housing and apply some sealant and put back together.

 

[petro-nut]

I took cover off, found someone tighten bolts to tight. Straighten cover and cleaned it real good.
Cleaned axel tubes by the pumpkin housing with brake cleaner and put coats of RTV black silicone around the tubes and so far so good?

 

[Chevymann74]

Permatex makes something called right stuff its like a gasket in a can and it dries harder than regular rtv sticks just as good if not better I would try that.

 

[petro-nut]

Thanks, if it starts leaking again I will give that a shot. So far so good! I was out there last night and it's still dry.