Replace transmission seals or rebuild?

[joebor1776]

Hello,
I took my 94 tsi awd (has 105K miles on it) to a Chrysler dealership to have the transfer case recall done again because I noticed oil sprayed all over the exhaust and around where the yoke goes into the transfer case. I had also noticed very minor leakage on my garage floor (like one or two drops over a 12-hour period). They agreed to do the recall repair, which is great. However, they told me my axle seals and input shaft seal were also leaking. They offered to replace the axle seals for 225.00 and the input shaft seal for 925.00. I said no thanks.

My question is this--should I bother trying to replace these seals at this point in the transmission's life and live with the minor leakage, and then just have the thing rebuilt when the synchros finally wear out? I don't have any grinds at the moment (although 3rd is a bit slow to get into). Or would it be worth it to replace the seals? I am pretty sure I can replace the axle seals myself, but dropping the transmission to replace the input shaft seal is a bit over my head at this point.

Thanks for any advice you can send my way!

 

[wont_luz]

How much leakage is the question. If it's a little you could probably get by with checking it often until it leaks a lot. When you pour fluid in and it comes right back out...then it's time to change the seal.

Are they sure it's the input shaft seal and not the rear main (crank) seal? The rear main still means u have to pull off the tranny...but at least you don't have to dissasemble it.

If you have the transmission out for seals...you might as well put synchros in it, it's not too awfully bad...and it's already out then. Yeah...wait for the synchros to go or the oil leak to get bigger.

 

[joebor1776]

Thanks man, I appreciate the advice. I think I'll just change the fluid with some synthetic (pennzoil synchromesh maybe) and add some of that gasket sweller stuff they make for transmissions--hopefully that will tide me over for a while.

 

[1AWD90]

You could also just change your axle seals. To help from leaking oil. There pretty cheap from you local parts store and not bad to install if you have a place and the tools to do it. Otherwise just do what wont_luz said and basicly drive it tell its time is up...

 

[turbotalon1g]

for that price you could score a built tranny from a few diff. places.
try a few local shops maybe.

 

[joebor1776]

Yea, that's what I thought too--way too much $$. But I understand they have to pull the trans and they have to charge for that labor. They were pretty good to me though, to be fair, replacing the yoke under the recall even though the recall had been performed once before. I called Chrysler beforehand and cleared the repeat recall with them, and had a case # all lined up to give the dealer, so I think that made it go smoother. I don't blame them for at least trying to get some more work out of it .

Anyway, after driving it around all afternoon, I don't see any drops of oil on the ground under it, so unless it's just getting splashed and stuck to the underbody, I have to think the leak must be pretty small. I got some engine degreaser and I'm just going to clean the crap out of it tonight and then keep an eye on it. And I may go ahead and replace the axle seals for kicks.

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.