So about 3 months ago I got my hands on a 97 zr2. I just yesterday discovered that there is some seepage around my front diff where the axles go in. I then pulled the fill plug off and could not feel any fluid with my finger. This really concerns me because I do not know how long it has been like that and I really don't need the headache of getting a new front end. The owner I bought it from said he's only used the 4wd twice in the 3 years he'd had it. Since I've had it I've used it maybe a handful of times. Would there have been any damage to the diff being run in 2wd 99% of the time? I don't hear any howling or anything that would suggest it's damaged, so hopefully I dodged a bullet. How much work are the axle seals to do?

 

If you have no noises then you should be fine. Just replace the seals. The fluid can only leak to the bottom of your cv seals. Which is just under half way of the center of your diff. The only other exit is your drain plug

 

When I did my axle seals I filled the front diff the EASY way. Just open the check plug and fill away.

 

It's always hard to answer questions like this because everyone's mechanical ability is different... I wouldn't worry about running it a little low on fluid, especially only running in 2wd as the R+P isn't turning with the front axle disconnect, only the spider gears.

That being said, axle seals are easy to change for the average wrench turner. If you have ever had the front end apart to do BJ's or wheel bearings this wont be much more work. Dismantling the front end to remove the axles will take longer than actually changing the seals... Passenger side needs to be pulled / tapped in place like a normal axle seal, while the driver side is simple just bolt on and re-assemble.