So, for the last month or so when I am changing gears I am hearing a rattle noise come from the rear of the car as I let off the clutch and give it gas, seams to be more noticeable going from 2nd to third and from third to fourth. AT first I thought one of my mufflers was loose so I didnt give it much thought, however when i came home a couple days ago I noticed a puddle on the floor of the garage. I appears to be rear end fluid. I looked under the car and there seams to have been some minor leaking. The puddle was about the size of the water puddle that comes off the air-conditioner after your car has been sitting. Since then there has only been some very minor spots and they seam to be getting smaller.
I have never been into the rear end and I am not a pumpkin jacker.
Any thoughts before i take here in for a check up would be helpful.

 

There is seals and a gasket that can go bad on the rear diff, if it is leaking get it fixed asap. If the lube runs out it will be an expensive fix.

 

could that cause it to rattle when changing gears?

 

You could be getting low on the amount of oil in the rear assb. the leak you discribed is a fair amount or diff fluid and you could be loosing it while in motion as well as it heats up. get this checked asap the rear gears and bearings are lubed/cooled by it doint wait get it looked asap

 

thanks guys, not what i was wanting to hear but about what i expected.

 

Check the rear axle and see where the leak is coming from. Diff oil is really thick stuff so you should be able to see areas that are wet for a long time. If there's just too much to tell, spray it down with brake parts cleaner and see where it's coming from when it starts leaking again. See if it's coming from the pumpkin itself or from the breather cap (on the axle tube, halfway between the passenger side wheel and the diff). There's a TSB out there that the breather cap can leak under heavy acceleration, but mine started doing it even under moderate around-town driving.

In the mean time, TOP OFF that fluid! There's a filler cap on the front side of the diff, use a 3/8" drive (no socket required, just use a ratchet and an extension...it's literally a square), fill it up to the bottom of the filler hole (you will probably need a gear oil pump--it's close quarters up there). Also check the cap for metal shavings, it's magnetic.

How would your describe the rattle? Kind of a hollow-metal noise or more like a heavy mechanical one?

 

Rear end is covered by the extended warranty so I dropped her off this morn. The noise is really more of a clatter, kinda sounds like taking off in 3rd gear from a dead stop.
BTW thanks for the responses.

 

Spline seal, replaced and rolling again. seams to have fixed the clatter, need to give her a good road test to make sure.
BTW, thanks for the responses.

 

Where in Texas are you located?

Glad its fixed

 

I know I'm a tad late to the party, texasgt/cs. I'm glad to hear you can go out n enjoy your ride again! I'm here if you need me.

Deysha

 

fort worth

 

sweet! you ever at the beach street meet?