Multiple cracked broken flexplates? Why?

[sparky52386ebay]

Ok guys i blew my first motor, then rebuilt it and now its all gravy. It is bored .030 over with ross pistons/eagle rods/balance shaft eliminator kit also evo 3 turbo running stock boost. I have cracked my first flexplate into peices and replaced it with one from mitsubishi graveyard. The one i got from mitsubishi graveyard has a hairline crack in one spot. Now other than that, one day i noticed i was leaking a good amount of transmission fluid from where i have no idea, and that was from my 2nd flexplate. Is this a failing transmission or just a bad torque converter/or too much engine vibrations because of the bs eliminator kit? PLZ HELP

P.S. If it is someting major im parting it out

 

[GVR4592]

So are you saying you put in a cracked flexplate? If so then I think you answered your own question.

 

[Lee'sGSX]

Flex plates normal break,or crack when the torque converter bolts or the flexplate crank bolts are a little loose,and there's play while there's torque being applied.

 

[Lee'sGSX]

Or if your just making a ton of power!

 

[sparky52386ebay]

No i never put a cracked flexplate in. I know the bolts are not loose (i used locktite on crank and torque converter bolts). I am just trying to find out if it is my torque convertor that is bad, lets not forget that soon after my flexplates started messing up, i started leaking transmission fluid at a pretty good pace. If my torque converter is bad should i find a junk yard one or spend the extra money and get it fixed somewhere? If so where?

 

[Sharkcus]

I appear to be dumping a ton of transmission fluid out of the inspection cover on the lower side, under the motor. Did you ever figure out why yours was doing that?

 

[tom04841]

I had the same problem. Your leak is coming from the seal where the torque converter slides into the transmission. When your flexplate breaks, the torque converter wobbles ever so slightly and stretches the spring in the seal, causing a poor seal and then it leaks.

I replaced my seal 4 times before i finally said the hell with it and bought a new flexplate ($36) from the dealer. Figured it was the only thing left to try. Needles to say that was 5 months ago.....NO LEAKS. Before the new flexplate, it would leak after a week TOPS.

 

[Sharkcus]

Is there a somewhat easy way to replace that seal? or do I have to take the tranny completely out of the car again? The seal could be just plain old... If I would have though about it, I would have replaced it while I had it out of the car.

 

[tom04841]

You have to drop the tranny. I wish there was an easier way. I have done it so many times now, i can drop it and put it back in 2 1/2 hrs flat....

 

[Sharkcus]

did you have to remove the starter?

 

[tom04841]

yeah, just remove the 2 bolts and set it back under the intake manifold.....you don't need to disconnect the wiring to it

 

[92awdgsx]

You have to take into consideration that when the flex plate breaks and the converter starts to wobble, its not only messing up the seal but wearing out the bushing in the pump that the converter rides in. Even if you replace the seal it still might leak because the bushing in now worn and letting that end of the converter move and messing up the seal again. It all depends on how long it was run like that and how much it acctually was moving around. If your doing alot of break boosting that will tend to crack flex plates too. While your sitting there boosting it your converter is ballooning up and flexing the flex plate. If you do this enough it puts alot of stress on the flex plate and causes cracking.