bl817

Norm, I believe that is a body brace for a convertible car. OP, the axle vent is on the passenger side. if you were sitting at the rear pass tire, its past the bump stop. ive seen plenty of pinion seal leaks account a clogged axle vent, never anything like the leak on the drivers side. IMHO, your drivers side axle tube has somehow "moved" in relation to the center section (where the gears are) and caused the leak. that said, since the oil is on all the tube, hard to say. something is amiss for sure. look on your local or nearby CL for a new rear axle or pull yours off and have the tubes welded to the center section. good luck