jimny - ns diff oil leak

Hi - i have a 4yr old Jimny - never used for offroad. Recently oil has been leaking down over the inside of the wheel. Local garage says - diff oil seal - couple of hundred £ to fix as suspension needs to come off and is an all day job. Would this be right and could anyone a suzuki specialist near glasgow, scotland. - thanks - RB (Jimny noob).

This sounds completely wrong, I would change your garage!

If its leaking down the wheel then its not the Differential. The diff is in the middle of the axle and it its leaking will drip down onto the road, not your wheel. You would certainly not have to "remove the suspension" for anything other than a broken spring or shock absorber.

You do not say if it is the front wheel or rear wheel?

If its the rear wheel then I bet it looks like this....



In this case it will be the rear wheel bearing (available in the SHOP - CLICK HERE )

You woulnd need to find someone who can cut the old bearing off and press a new one on for you (a guide to this is HERE )

If it is a front wheel that leaking like this then it will be a Kingpin Bearing or Front wheel bearing

Martin

Thanks. It's the drivers side front thats leaking just like the picture you show'd of the rear oil dripping down and over the inside of the wheel/tire. Appreciate your response. Doubt that i'll use that garage. Will call the dealer where i bought it from for a quote. As you said - no leak from the middle. Wish it wasn't so hard to find a garage i can trust.

In that case my money would be on a collapsed lower kingpin bearing (you would have to get both changed - upper and lower) or a front wheel bearing (less likely)

A Suzuki dealer will, in general, charge the earth although a dealer local to me ran a very good offer recently - see www.suzuki4u.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7619

I would seek out a local mechanic and see what they say. I am a home DIY'er, not a mechanic and I can change Kingpin bearings easily in an evening outside on the drive.

Martin

Local garage was the one that said diff problem and a couple of hundred quid. Suzuki dealer #1 quoted £250 to replace the one wheel. #2 said £485 - both wheels should be done at same time as other is likely to fail. Will shop around a little. Main concern is getting the job done properly. How dangerous is it to drive right now ?

as said, change your garage

i ordered kingpin bearings and a wheel bearing off here ( thanks hugley mlines ) ( ohh and also thanks massively for the oil seal ) my local garage is changing the kingpin bearings, wheel bearing, new oil seal and new diff oil for £140

this is what my front offside looks like