TRANNY leaking still after replacing both seals

[SnowBird]

90 AWD M/T

Its hard to pinpoint it, its just all over the bottom and everywhere else. It didnt look like it was coming from the seals, but I did them anyway, the D/S was like $22! Anyway, its still leaking, it looks like its been apart before because I can see RTV towards the passenger side on the main seam that runs down the case.

Would I be able to maybe pull the tranny and open it up and reseal it? Ive never taken a tranny apart, but done everything else (engines, heads) I just dont know if a leak like this can be remedied. I think Ill put in some colored tranny fluid next time so I can maybe pinpoint the leak better.

 

[Boost92awd]

I would spray it down real good and get all of the trans oil off it. Then I would just drive it untill it starts leaking and pinpoint the leak.

Answer to your other question yes you could pull the trans apart and just reseal it.

 

[SnowBird]

I would spray it down real good and get all of the trans oil off it. Then I would just drive it untill it starts leaking and pinpoint the leak.

Answer to your other question yes you could pull the trans apart and just reseal it.

Cool, I just didnt know If I took the case off if stuff would just start falling out everywhere making a big problem, like I said, it would be a new journey for me, but I guess thats how you learn.

 

[Boost92awd]

I have never taking a AWD DSM tranny apart. But on most transmission you might have to take a couple things off in order to split the trans. Things may or may not fall out, most of the time things wont. You should just be able to split the trans and lay some RTV down and put it back together.

 

[jrohner]

Both seals? There are 3 -- the output shaft that goes to the transfercase also has a seal. Clean the tranny off really good, pressure wash if you have access to one, then you should be able to find out the leak.

 

[TheMadCheshire]

Its not too terribly hard to pull the trans off and split it and reseal it. There are several write-ups on vfaq.com for rebuilding and the like. Based on this information you can split the trans and reseal it. But wash the trans the best you can and then drive until it leaks and pinpoint it. Goodluck.

 

[dsmpat95]

If you split your tranny, you might need a tool to go over your input shaft to help loosen the nut on the other side. I had to on mine. I welded my old clutch to a socket. The input shaft seal isnt that costly either if its bad.

 

[SnowBird]

Both seals? There are 3 -- the output shaft that goes to the transfercase also has a seal. Clean the tranny off really good, pressure wash if you have access to one, then you should be able to find out the leak.

Ah, I didnt know about that one in there, I dont think its that one, I never noticed it leaking all the times I took off my t-case, and the leak is clearly on the outside front, but I will check it out while its out - thanks for the info

If you split your tranny, you might need a tool to go over your input shaft to help loosen the nut on the other side. I had to on mine. I welded my old clutch to a socket. The input shaft seal isnt that costly either if its bad.

I gotcha, something to hold the spline still. And that has to be done to take it apart? An impact wont do it? Thanks for the info also.

Thanks to everyone else for verifying I can just split it and seal it.

 

[Boost92awd]

Yes you can use an impact to take the nut off.

 

[BrokenTsi]

are you positive that the axles are seated properly in the trans? The car will still run and drive but it can still leak if you didnt push the axles in all the way.

 

[SnowBird]

are you positive that the axles are seated properly in the trans? The car will still run and drive but it can still leak if you didnt push the axles in all the way.

yeah, they are pushed in all the way, Ive had cars where the axles werent properly seated and you could clearly see a thick run of fluid. I honestly dont see how people dont get the axles all the way in.

Im gonna read up on the VFAQ about the tranny and just do this in a couple weeks when I pull my engine to fix the damn front case leak and oil pan (I just think itll be easier to pull it all then monkey around under the car) Its gonna be soooo nice to have my vehicle not leaking anything for once. Well, thats if I can source the leak.

 

[jrohner]

It's quite easy to pull these transmissions apart. You can take the cover and the next 'layer' off without pulling the trans from the car, so if it's one of the 1st 2 seems leaking you are in luck to leave the trans in the car. You should even be able to get the next one pulled out enough in the car to seal it.

 

[SnowBird]

It's quite easy to pull these transmissions apart. You can take the cover and the next 'layer' off without pulling the trans from the car, so if it's one of the 1st 2 seems leaking you are in luck to leave the trans in the car. You should even be able to get the next one pulled out enough in the car to seal it.

No shit? Thats good to know. So Im assuming the first layer is the smaller on that has the 2 bumps on it, and then the second one is like half of the tranny? Nothing is gonna fall out?!?! Is this with the t-case out though? I thought there was the hype about the output shaft of it being trouble when loosening a nut?

Sorry for all the questions, Im pumped to fix my tranny leak, I like this one because it doesnt grind. In this pic, green is the first part, and blue the second? Cause Im pretty sure mines leaking from the second, and on VFAQ it looks like there is 3 different layers that come off, with the third needed a lot of crap taken out that I dont know if I could do. I dont see three layers here though, maybe Im looking at it wrong.

 

[SnowBird]

Can anyone help me here? I was wondering if these are the only two case pieces that are to be removed and sealed? I hope so. I am wondering because on VFAQ AWD rebuild page it looks like there are 3 pieces with the 3rd piece being like 2 inches wide with having to unlbolt a bunch of crap and mess with the gears to get it off. Any more advice is greatly appreciated, I keep hearing they can be removed in the car with little effort and sealed.

 

[jeremy19984g63]

There are 3 parts. The 2in. part you are talking about is the bearing plate.

 

[jeremy19984g63]

There are 5 seals. Two axle seals. One input shaft seal. One output shaft seal, and one shifter shaft seal.

 

[Auto RS T]

The leak could also be where the shift select lever enters the transmission case. I've seen that leak on a few DSM transmissions.

 

[SnowBird]

There are 5 seals. Two axle seals. One input shaft seal. One output shaft seal, and one shifter shaft seal.

Damn, thats a lot of seals. I guess 3 outta those 5 could be leaking on the inside. Also, that bearing plate, yes, that looks like the one of VFAQ that needs work to remove. Have you personally done it? I just dont wanna risk taking it off if its not that easy, VFAQ kinda jumps from frame to frame quickly without a lot of explanation.

The leak could also be where the shift select lever enters the transmission case. I've seen that leak on a few DSM transmissions.

Thanks, I justed checked that, not any visable leaks up top, Im 99% sure its coming from the seams on the case. And where are you at in NE Ohio? I use to live in KENT and STREETSBORO, I will be up in a couple weeks to visit for XMAS. I wish I had the AWD when I lived up there, its not as fun here in FL.

 

[jeremy19984g63]

yes I have rebuilt these transmissions many time. You will need to remove the two shaft nuts, reverse shifter fork, reverse gears, and the viscous cupling to be able to get the bearing plate off

 

[SnowBird]

yes I have rebuilt these transmissions many time. You will need to remove the two shaft nuts, reverse shifter fork, reverse gears, and the viscous cupling to be able to get the bearing plate off

Cool, thanks for the detailed description. I have never broke open a tranny before, but I have done everything else, including building heads from scratch, is this a job a tranny newbie as myself could do? I mean, do I need any special tools such as gear pullers or anything to get that plate off and seal it up? Thanks, this leaking tranny is irritating me.

 

[jeremy19984g63]

Also the shifter seal I was talking about is the same as the shifter select lever shaft. You checked it and there was no leak right? So if you replaced the axle seals, then the input shaft seal, and output shaft seal are the only two that could be leaking. If not the case itself. And I have seen small cracks and holes get in the case and cause leaks. If you do find a crack or pinhole anddo not have a tig welder, JB weld will work good too.

 

[SnowBird]

Also the shifter seal I was talking about is the same as the shifter select lever shaft. You checked it and there was no leak right? So if you replaced the axle seals, then the input shaft seal, and output shaft seal are the only two that could be leaking. If not the case itself. And I have seen small cracks and holes get in the case and cause leaks. If you do find a crack or pinhole anddo not have a tig welder, JB weld will work good too.

Wait, the case itself cant leak? I thought if the case pieces werent RTV'd they could be leaking, because when I clean off the case it looks like its leaking from the seams. I replaced the axle seals yes, didnt get to the out put seal for the t-case because it wasnt visually leaking. The other ones you speak of must be inside (but I dont understand if they leaked the fluid would be contained inside the tranny anways, but maybe Im not picturing it right), and I dont see how it cant leak from the seams since the fluid is all in there.

 

[jeremy19984g63]

You can do it. As for tools just the basic plus impact, C-clip ring Pliers, and when you go to remove the V C , and gears you may need a puller. Sometime the just come right of though.

 

[jeremy19984g63]

Wait, the case itself cant leak? I thought if the case pieces werent RTV'd they could be leaking, because when I clean off the case it looks like its leaking from the seams. I replaced the axle seals yes, didnt get to the out put seal for the t-case because it wasnt visually leaking. The other ones you speak of must be inside (but I dont understand if they leaked the fluid would be contained inside the tranny anways, but maybe Im not picturing it right), and I dont see how it cant leak from the seams since the fluid is all in there.

Yes you are right. the seams are RTV'd and should not leak unless someone has had it apart and and did not seal it back properly. What I was saying is look for cracks or holes in the transmission case before having to take it apart.

 

[SnowBird]

Ok, ill spray the hell out of it again with brake parts cleaner and check it over again. I thought I could RTV it up again, because like you said, I noticed some red/orange RTV smashed out on some parts of the seams like it was taken apart before. Hopefully this is an easy fix and not a headache, thanks for your time.