What Griffdowg said - take out the top plug on the rear diff and see how much oil is in it. It takes 1.7 litres of oil. If you get most of that in it, fair enough, it needs fixing. But depending on how much there is still left in it after you take it for a short drive, you it may not need fixing before the off roading trip (just avoid deep water, if oil can get out, water can get in (other than through the breathers).

If the diff really has been dry for a while, the whining noise it makes should be pretty obvious. I have a P38 here that has an awful whine from the rear diff (since I put the rear propshaft back on - it clearly used to be owned by a scamming moron that used a propshaft failure as an excuse for covering up a whining diff, but I got the car cheap enough to not be bothered), but it's not obviously losing any oil from the back axle.

Point being that these things aren't as black-and-white as some people will make them out to be.
 
As a start have you removed the diff filler plug to see how much EP90 is in there?

The diff on the rear axle is in the middle and your looking for the square plug fixed to the pan as you look at the vehicle from behind.

A 1/2" ratchet (with extension) will fit in there, undo it all the way and dip your finger inside. Fluid should be upto this plug.

Easy to check, takes 5 minutes and may put your mind at ease.

G

Thanks to all you guys, stars each and every one of ya !! :)

A mate of Steve's also suggested checking the oil (DOH - OBVIOUS when ya think about it!!) So just back from a trip to Halfords, took the plug out, and it dripped !

Just to prove the point, chucked some more in anyway, and it came straight back out !! WOOHOO !!!!

Heaven knows where/ when the old fluid around the back of the hub and inside of the wheel came from, but the important thing is, Emma is off to go n get muddy in Salisbury !!

Thanks again guys, your help is MUCH appreciated ! :)
 
snot brake fluid :eek: is it?

clean it all off, so yu can see if it comes back.

Seconded. Also check if there's brake fluid missing from the header tank under the bonnet. If there isn't much missing (i.e. it's above the min mark), it's probably OK. If it's empty, then that is much more concerning than a leaky axle.
 
Seconded...much more concerning than a leaky axle.

Brake fluid is fine, and good call on the 'clean it off...' idea. Job for next week, along with taking 3 tonnes of mud of the beast !

After taking cleaning the beast, we can then hose down the daughter ;-)
 
Salisbury run tomorrow! I live very near Salisbury just off A303, anyone want to pop in and show me how to fit a slave cylinder before I make a mess of it!
 
Salisbury run tomorrow! I live very near Salisbury just off A303, anyone want to pop in and show me how to fit a slave cylinder before I make a mess of it!

Did you read the titel to the tread.. it's a girly thing dude mind you if you want your nails doing;)
 
WOW guys thank u thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you :D

she's sorted...for now! Thanks v much for your help, advise and contacts mucho appreciated !!

Thank you again...now roll on the weekend...

THANK YOU!
 
So has the seal been replaced? Are the bearings ok>??? If you get in trouble around Bedfordshire - Surrey way, just shout I'll be heading down Luton to Surrey for some ebay bits tomorroz I can throw in a built up Hub if need be.
 
what's the betting that the 'damp' patch was actually where some oil had leaked out of the filler in the past when doing an oil change? :)
 
what's the betting that the 'damp' patch was actually where some oil had leaked out of the filler in the past when doing an oil change? :)

Hopefully :)

We made it back in one piece, found a few dents and my tow bar and steps are bent back to their original shape so all is good.

Thanks again everyone for all your help :)
 

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