Drove for 15 minutes with parking brake - leaking rear diff

Hi everyone,

we just drove for about 15 minutes with the hand brake on (TD 5). I was sitting on the passenger seat when I noticed the middle console getting really hot.

We stopped right away and I checked if the heat had produced any damage. I saw that the rear diff was leaking right at the prop shaft entrance. My theory is that the diff heated up above normal and for some reason the ventilation didn't work/the pressure couldn't escape.

Does that make sense? I opened the rear diff to see if there is oil in there and it spilled some oil right away (through the fill-in hole). That's good news I guess as I still have some oil. But I'm also surprised that the level was above fill level. Maybe because of the heat expansion?

Another question: Is it possible that transfer box took some damage as well?

Thanks for your help!

Bastian

Don't see how it would affect the diff as its at the other end of the prop. A blocked breather on the rear axle could however make it leak

apart from wear on the shoes id think little damege

I think your leak is coincidental.

Heat was from friction from the hand brake shoes- they will prob need replacing and possibly the drum if it’s warped.