VZ Ute diff leaking at drive shaft

[Geek2.0]

G'day!

My girlfriend is about to buy a 2005 VZ ute, 6speed manual 3.6L, overall it is in very good condition and only has 92,000km on it.
In the process of inspecting it we found a very slight noise while cruising, it goes away under acceleration (or you can't hear it over the engine), it is most noticeable at about 40km/h.
The noise is a very quite whirring noise and doesn't really sound like a bearing or diff. I was beginning to think it was just drive train noise being amplified by the tub.
I had a look under the car and noticed the drivers side drive shaft has old oil and dirt around it near where it meets the diff, the passenger side is dry.

Right drive shaft:

Left drive shaft:

Does anyone have any idea what might be going on with this noise?
Or where the oil could be leaking from?

Cheers for the help!

 

[MYVESSV8]

cant see pics

 

[Geek2.0]

Sorry mate, they should be up now!

 

[lowandslow]

The grease has probably begun to breakdown in the CV joint and some of it has worked it's way outside of the boot. Nothing to really worry about. Shafts are cheap and they are easy to repair aswell.

 

[CONROD]

Definitely looks like grease from within the CV. If it was oil from the seal it would be around the diff side of the ABS reluctor ring. Give it a good rub and see if it smells like Diff oil.

 

[Geek2.0]

Brilliant thanks lads! I called the diff specialist and they quoted $200 to fix the diff seal, so either way it shouldn't work out too expensive!
We should be picking up the car next weekend, so I'll give it a good clean, check the oil level in the diff, and see if it keeps leaking.

Thanks again!

 

[lowandslow]

Your diff isn't leaking.