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Hi all,
I have read many articles regarding pinion seal and carrier bolt hole leaks. None of those issues, but my differential has a leak from the ring gear support roller adjustment shaft. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this. Any luck stopping the leak w/o removing carrier from housing?

Neil

Wow, that's a new one on me. I've owned a number of cars with that differential feature, and have serviced several others. And I've never seen or heard of any leaks at that point so it will be especially interesting to see what comments come forth on this!

I think the ring gear support roller adjustment shaft is suppose to be above the fill level, so is it at the correct level? Also I copied and posted below the only thing I could find that Packard says about general leaks.
Hope this helps.
Wes

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Hi Wes,

The vent is clean and unfortunately the adjustment shaft is about 1" below the fill level plug! Now oil level is slightly below plug opening.

This morning I removed the "keeper"with curved slot that is held by a 5/16x1/2" long bolt and discovered 2 leaks- around the bolt and around the shaft. The locknut on the shaft was not tight.
Also a diagram in the 41 shop manual shows a blind hole for the 5/16" bolt. But it is clearly drilled through as gear oil flows with bolt removed.

So now everything is put back together. I rotated shaft clockwise until it stopped then backed off a few degrees then snugged locknut. Bolt is coated with teflon thread sealer.
Time will tell if leaks are fixed but I have no idea if the support roller has proper .005" clearance.
Not too thrilled about pulling axle shafts and removing differential.

Neil

What about a fiber washer or maybe oil resistant RTV on the threads at the entrance to the case so the material would form a gasket..

I have no idea if the support roller has proper .005" clearance.

Unless your car is doing extreme duty like pulling heavy loads, I wouldn't worry about it, that adjustment has pretty much been ignored (if even recognized) by many owners for decades without reports of problems. And the more junior differentials never had the adjustment in the first place.