124 E300D rear differential leak
 

had some 'clunking' issues coming from the rear when shifting gears recently- had a look underneath and it looks like this:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/chazola/diff1.jpg

I take it its the seal leaking here and trailing back along the diff? (Though it seems to have splashed up above too)?

None of the oil seems 'freshly leaked' and there's never any oil on the ground underneath, there's no strange noises or feel from the back end apart from changing gears it likes to 'thunk' sometimes- feels like a pulling a plunger off some tiles if that makes sense!!

Looks like the front pinion seal is leaking and has been for at least weeks.
What is the fluid level in the differential? Hopefully the diff. isn't damaged but the "clunk" noise is not a good sign.
Al

I have the same leaky seal on my 99 E300.

How difficult a DIY project is replacing this seal from a techinal standpoint? Does the drive shaft unbolt and seal come out w/o distrubing the guts of the diff or are there gears and shafts that must be removed from the diff to get down to the seal requiring realignment when being put back together?

Additionally, my axle has the same greasy coating (to the same degree) as is shown in Chazola's photo. Is it the groups opinion that is comming from the front seal or that the axle seal is also leaking? My CV Boots seem to be in good shape.

Blocked breather perhaps?

that leak is no biggy. just check yer fluid and let it go.
most likely yer clunk is from the diff mounts. look at the
rear of the diff at the frame. there are two of them.

george