Passenger front diff leak

[TangledPossum]

I've got a 21 ST which I did the actuator recall on and replaced the diff fluid. Now a year later and I noticed quite a bit of diff fluid on the bottom of the diff, passenger side. I could trace it up visually to where the axle goes into the diff. I'm assuming a seal there has gone bad.

Anyone else have this issue? Should it be relatively easy to pull the axle out, unbolt that diff cover, and replace the diff cover seal and whatever seals around the axle that slides in?

It's hard to search for this problem because every result comes back with the common actuator leak but this is the passenger side.

 

[TangledPossum]

It seems like CN1Z-7H424-B might be the part number for the axle seal that's leaking. But I can't find a proper diagram of the diff. I'd really like to see it broken apart because I'd kind of like to remove that whole passenger cover to inspect and drain the diff. My drain bolt is stuck in there and I can only remove some fluid by suctioning it out the fill hole. But I don't know how that cover seals or if it is tricky to detach.

Side note: do those drain bolts use a special socket that is not a torx? Like a torx plus?

 

[Cdubya]

You will spill front diff fluid once the passenger axle is removed so you will need to top it off. The front diff drain plug is torx. you may need a breaker bar to loosen it. Still, if you managed to loosen the fill plug, that is all you need.

 

[TangledPossum]

I did actually manage to complete this repair. I didn't remove the diff cover, only the axle and then diff seal. And I was able to remove the drain plug with a torx plus socket and some luck. I replaced it with a new plug from the dealer and new axle seal and the leak has stopped.