Detent ball definitive answer?

[akdov823]

I keep getting a tranny leak after a couple hundred miles. I dropped my tranny off to rrt and the only thing he can come up with is a missing detent ball. My understanding is this wouldnt cause a leak once the transfer case is on. I have searched but yet to find a definitive answer, the question:. Will a missing detent ball on a 96 5 speed allow the out put shaft to move enough to cause a leak?

 

[pauleyman]

no. I don't think so. The shaft couldn't move far enough out. you've obviously dropped the transfer and possibly the trans. Should be obvious where the leak is no?

 

[evo-gsr]

Incorrect^ I was missing the ball in my gearbox and had the same leak issues.
Replaced the ball and no more leaks.

 

[GRNDSM]

A leak is how I found out there was a ball, back in 1996 . I didn't happen right a way, but it hit me at round 100-150 miles at the race track and it was bad (emptying tranny in just a few minutes)!!!

This can vary from person to person, depending on how easily output shaft can move inside of (often rusty) transfer case spline.