IFS Leak

[bigbadchev84]

This is on our 2000 Tahoe, Just left a puddle on our driveway last night. Need to get this thing fixed but not sure what im up against. What does it look like im gonna need to do?

 

[shaun89]

hmmm...i think actually splitting that case and re-doing the gasket might be a little work, this might sound cheap but try brake cleaning the crap out of it and silicon around the whole thing? pressing it into the crack of where the 2 pieces meet. it might not fix it, but it only cost a couple bucks and a lot less work.

 

[bigbadchev84]

yeah im not so sure i want to try that approach, we live in a fairly new house and the concrete still looks nice in the driveway so i really just want to get the thing fixed right before all the crappy weather comes, It has a 6" lift on it so i dont know if that will hurt or help

 

[wasted wages]

I would brake clean it first and make sure the housing isn't cracked...

 

[Avery4jc]

Steam clean the crap out of that front end and then assess the situation... I've tried tracking down drips/leaks before and spent a lot of time chasing the wrong parts. Stuff drips and flings all over the place, so like I said get it cleaned up and go from there.

 

[daleearnhardt01]

I can clearly see where it is leaking from. Very common for the differentials to leak on the IFS trucks. I would drop it out of the truck, separate the axle tube from the diff case, and seal it up again, also replace the axle seals on both sides as they tend to leak as well.

Also appears that you have a coolant leak based on the Dex-Cool all over the place.

 

[Jason4x4]

yup, when you split it, stand it on end, and fix your coolant leak, it also looks like those bolts are loose.

 

[bigbadchev84]

i will take it down and spray it off tomorrow, anyone got a link or a direction to point me in a step by step of what i am in for? also what kind of time should i set aside to do this? couple hours?

Good call on the coolant leak, i just noticed a antifreeze smell yesterday as well. it has 80k on it and an extensive pile of maintenance receipts for it. I figured the intake gasket was in need of replacement. we just picked it up a couple weeks ago and have a few maintenance deals to take care of on it. Brakes squeal every now and then, so those are getting replaced this weekend as well as addressing this leak!

 

[Jason4x4]

For someone that hasn't done it before, it is more like a all weekend ordeal. and make sure you get the felpro Good intake gaskets.

 

[Babaganoosh]

Do you happen to have a receipt for a water pump replacement? I would look there first, seen way to many leak there.

 

[daleearnhardt01]

Dropping the differential is easy. Take the steering linkage down, whole thing (center link and tie rods), skid plate/mounting bracket, cv shaft bolts, I take the oil filter off to have more room to move the pinion around. Get a friend and drop it out.

 

[bigbadchev84]

OK got it sprayed off a few days ago, definatley leaking coolant, im about 90% sure it is the water pump. So do I go with a new or a reman replacement?

 

[Jason4x4]

New

 

[shaun89]

x2 on the new...new water pumps arent that much more $$ either. at least for the 73-87s.

 

[Babaganoosh]

If you go with a new delco from a dealership, they are updated to prevent them from going out so fast and they are lifetime warranty.