I have an '88 S10-Blazer with a 2.8 2WD 700R4 Trans, etc. Last Friday, my rear axle started to leak differential fluid. By the time I realized this, I was already a little over 200 miles away from home. Miraculously, I made it home alive, but now I've got about 600 miles on a rapidly leaking axle. I have every intention of fixing the seal this Friday, however, I was wondering if I could make it until then without any severe damage, given the circumstances...?

1. Daily commute to work is around 50 miles round trip
2. Top speed in the city is about 45-50 mph
3. Leak is getting smaller, which indicates fluids are rapidly being depleted

I know it is absolutely not recommended at all to drive on an axle in this condition for obvious life-threatening and axle life shortening reasons, but this is the only daily driver I have. I also heard that I should use a repair bearing instead of a standard wheel bearing when swapping bearings...is this necessary? Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated, and very much needed.

 

fill it back up if you must drive it

 

yep. Look on the passenger side on the axle,beside the driveshaft and you should see a nut you can take out and fill up the axle. At least keep it topped off until you can fix it.

 

Do not drive it until you top it off. Unless you want to replace all the bearings and seals possibly more if its not already too late.

 

Thanks for your help guys. The good news is I found the plug next to the pumpkin. The bad news is, the 3/8 plug is too shallow, and every time I try to fit a ratchet in there to unscrew the plug, the ratchet slips out, and brings me one slip closer to completely stripping the plug. At this point, I'm guessing I'm just screwed. Only thing left to do is drive slowly, carefully until Friday, and hope my $150 job doesn't turn into a $1500 job.

 

Try taking an extension and hammering it in there. Then try to get it with the ratchet trying to keep the extension in there as straight as possible. If you have a propane or map gas torch you can heat it up and then you should be able to get it out.