Clutch fork boot is leaking!

[lilreg08]

i got a 97 gsx after everytime i drive it my boot around the transmission leaks some sort of fluid im guessing its transmission fluid.... idk why
anyone know how i can stop it or figure out why its leaking... only does it after i drive it!
i just changed my transmission fluid about 4 days ago? could it be that i put to much fluid?

 

[habitatguy187]

There should be no fluid anywhere near the boot, if there is, then you most likely have whatever is leaking all over your clutch assembly too, which isn't good. Does your clutch ever slip when you get on it?

 

[viperlp01]

leaking slave cylinder or leaking rear main seal.

 

[99gst_racer]

Sounds like you have a failing rear main seal. Can you tell if it's engine oil or tranny oil? They're probably a different color, so you should be able to tell them apart.

Either way, it should be dry inside of the bellhousing. If there's any fluids in there, it's a bad thing.

 

[lilreg08]

i thought it was motor oil but everyone that smells it they say its tranny oil or gear oil.... but it doesnt slip or anything it feels fine when i get on it and just drive it normal... but im not sure
and the fluid comes out black dark dark black

 

[beachbum2185]

if it's gear oil then it's probably a seal/bearing from the input shaft.

 

[lilreg08]

alright well... if it is the input shaft how hard is it to change that??

 

[motozachl]

Pull back the boot and check inside the bell housing for fluid. Also do the same for the slave cylinder

 

[lilreg08]

alright im about to go check and see if there is any fluid on the inside of the boot..... i just hope i dont got to drop the tranny.....

 

[beachbum2185]

alright well... if it is the input shaft how hard is it to change that??

i personally havent had to do it, so i don't know how hard it is.

 

[99gst_racer]

alright im about to go check and see if there is any fluid on the inside of the boot..... i just hope i dont got to drop the tranny.....

To fix the problem, you're going to have to pull the tranny anyway.

Dark black is probably motor oil. Changing the rear main seal is pretty easy. Pulling the tranny is 80% of the job.

 

[twicks69]

It can be three things:

* Rear engine main seal (requires removal of clutch/flywheel and rear main seal bracket to replace seal)

* Transmission input shaft seal (requires full teardown of the transmission)

* Transmission output shaft seal (more common, requires removal of transmission, drain/remove 5th gear cover, remove viscous coupler snapring, pry off viscous coupler and use magnetic pickup tool to remove detent ball, then slide out the output shaft from the bellhousing side, then pull seal with a seal puller and install new seal, then reinstall output shaft, detent ball, viscous coupler and new snapring).

Be sure that your slave cylinder is not the cause that you have a leaking cylinder that "looks" like a leaking transmission.

Worst-case scenario, you damaged a front diff spider gear that exited through your bellhousing, or you had a bearing failure causing this (less likely as you would have heard ALOT of bearing noise).

Part numbers for all three scenarios:

Input Shaft Seal - MD741818
Output Shaft Seal - MD723202
Rear Main Seal - MD174940
Viscous Coupler Snapring - MD720687


Good luck!

 

[FLASH1970]

It sounds like the trans needs to be dropped to find the problem. Go on VFAQ and look under the "drivetrain" section to find how to do a clutch job. You'll need the steps on how to drop the trans. It gives a step-by-step with pictures. It's not that hard. Just take your time.

 

[burkgonzo]

Damn it, sounds like my same issue.

 

[Tanro]

Transmission gear oil smells god aweful. If you sniff it you will know a difference between it and engine oil. Also, your clutch slave cylinder could be leaking.

 

[lilreg08]

I think I put way to much tranny fluid in it could it be that its tryin to push it out

 

[twicks69]

Well, when the transmission is completely drained, it should hold just above 2 quarts of new fluid. If the transmission was COMPLETELY empty of fluid (i.e. rebuilt, etc.), the transmission holds approximately 2.4 quarts.

 

[99gst_racer]

Tim, what happens if a person overfills a tranny case? It wouldn't cause fluid to be pushed past the input or output shaft seals, would it? What are the negative results (if any) of overfilling a tranny case?

 

[lilreg08]

Alright well when they where puttin the fluid in it started to over flow out the fill hole on both the tranny and transfer case which I'm guessin is bad.... so what should I do

 

[99gst_racer]

Alright well when they where puttin the fluid in it started to over flow out the fill hole on both the tranny and transfer case which I'm guessin is bad.... so what should I do

It's impossible to pour fluid into the tranny and have it come out of the transfer case. Their fluid "reservoirs" aren't joined.

It's normal to have fluid pouring back out of the tranny case when filling up. Our trannys don't have a dipstick to indicate fluid level, so that how we know it's full. Read: Changing Transmission Oils

Where exactly what fluid leaking out of the t-case?

 

[beachbum2185]

first off, you need to find out which fluid is actually leaking. that will narrow down the options.

 

[19Eclipse90]

If the rear main seal were leaking, the back side of the flywheel and the rear main seal cover would be noticeably wet. If the lower bellhousing cover is in place (metal shield, bolts to engine block and bellhousing), remove it and take a look around. In combination with removing the fork boot, you should be able to get some lighting in there to get a basic view of things. This will help you deduce whether the rear main seal is in fact the culprit.

As others have stated, however, the problem won't be solved without pulling the transmission. So, even if the main seal was not leaking, it would be wise to change it while you have the transmission out.

 

[lilreg08]

it poured out the transfer case while i was filling it up i must of put to much thats what i mean... same with the tranny i put to much so it started to come out the fill hole!
but the fluid is like a dark color idk if its tranny fluid or gear oil its one of those!
but now its not leaking out of anywhere but the boot now, and when im driving it or when its on....
but it seems like its only leakin out the boot....

 

[twicks69]

 

[lilreg08]

yea your telling me
you guys think i should just drain the tranny fluid back out??