Differential leaking, what do you guys think?
 

Hey everyone, so lately I've been noticing a drop or two of fluid under my car, ever since I went into a huge pot hole. So I decided to drive up on the ramps and get under the car to look for the issue, and I found the fluid to be leaking out of the driver's side of the diff, as seen in the picture...
Attachment 201394

I'm thinking its a seal of some sort, this is the first rwd and first car with a diff that I've ever owned, so I don't know much about this. If it is a seal, how would I go about replacing it?

replace the axle seal. buy a few just in case you screw up during install or as a backup if you want to do both sides.

it's not a difficult job really, the most difficult part is installing the seal flush if you don't have a proper seal installer. the fluid level is above the seal so technically all you have to do is remove the half shaft for the job.

if you have a shop do it then have both sides replaced, it's about a $250 job for both seals. if you get a quote for more then you're getting ripped off, it's realistically a 1 hour job at most, 15-20 mins for the experienced. book time giving about 1.5 hours plus parts/solvent i would assume.

What entails removing the half shafts? I may just end up taking it to a shop because I don't have experience in this kind of thing lol.

Is this it?

Alright I ordered two seals from the dealer and I'll probably have my shop do it, but does the fluid get drained in order to change these seals?

that might be up to the shop to advise, if done cleanly and not rushed then no debris should enter the differential in changing the seals so technically the fluid should not have to be changed.

if it's about due(60k) then you might consider it anyways.

Well I mean I ordered two quarts of eneos that should be arriving soon anyway, I may just have them replace the fluid while it's up, but I see what you're saying. I would love to do it myself but I would rather not, I'm not experienced in diff work and whatnot, everything I've owned was fwd with no diff lol.

Is it difficult to do myself? Wouldn't I just have to disconnect my coilover, sway bar endlink, and upper A-arm so the hub has room to play, and then use a prybar to pop the shaft out of the diff and replace the seal?

i haven't done one on an 8 but it should be very similar to the older 7s, disconnect the lower control arms, strut and toe rods, swing the hub out of the way and pop the axle out with a prybar. the seal should be staring you in the face.

Yeah I did read a how to for the rx7, everything looks so similar underneath the car. I'm taking it to my mechanic tomorrow though, I decided to not do it so I don't mess something up, maybe I'll watch him and learn haha. But thank you for all your help man.