Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
08-22-2012, 04:25 PM
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Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
I am on google and cannot find a guide on how to replace the transaxel seals. I have an idea on what to do but it would be great to have a step by step guide. I lost my haynes manual . Any suggestions?
08-22-2012, 04:58 PM
#3
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Re: Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
wedge a screw driver under the seal and use a rubber mallet tapping the screw driver handle to work it out. You may not need the mallet, might be able to get it out by hand
08-22-2012, 05:24 PM
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Re: Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
I watched a video on how to remove the axle. It basically said, Remove the 30mm nut in the middle of the rotor(I forgot the name of it), take off the fork on the back side, push the rotor/arm assembly out of the way and the axle will come out. If that is true, where are the seals? The mechanic said transaxle seals? Is it the same thing?
08-22-2012, 05:28 PM
#5
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Re: Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
Almost. You need to free the ball joint and then push the rotor/arm out of the way, pulling the axle out of the assembly at the same time. The seals are in the transmission. You will see them clearly when the axles are out. You should not attempt this without a service manual.
08-22-2012, 05:43 PM
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Re: Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
You need to clarify with your mechanic exactly what seals he is talking about. More than likely it's the axle seals. You remove the axles, then pop the seal out with some leverage. You can use a small pry bar, a screwdriver, or a seal puller. To install the new ones, find a socket roughly the same diameter as the seal and use it to help tap in the new seal. This will ensure you have even pressure around the new seal and don't damage it. Then reinstall your axles.
To remove the axles you will need to remove the 36mm axle nut. Power tools are good but if you don't have them you can usually get to the nut through the wheel as long as the center cap is removed. Leave the car in gear to hold it still and use a long breaker bar to remove (and later install) the axle nut. Jack up the car and put it on stands. Remove the wheels, remove the nut holding the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Hammer on the steering knuckle near the tie rod end until it breaks free (be careful not to hit the tie rod end itself). Lift the tie rod out from the steering knuckle, you should be able to move the steering knuckle left and right freely now. Disconnect the upper or lower ball joint the same way you did the tie rod end (your choice, most people disconnect the lower joint, I personally prefer the upper on Integras). Unbolt the strut fork at the bottom. Hit the end of the axle with a rubber mallet to break it loose from the hub (if you don't have a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer put the axle nut back on the end of the axle upside down and thread it down until it is flush with the end of the axle and hit it with a normal hammer, this will prevent you from mushrooming out the end and damaging the threads). Once the axle is loose you should be able to turn and pull the steering knuckle to move it to a position where you can pull the outer end of the axle out. Now crawl under the car, using a long screwdriver or a pry bar you can pop the other end of the axle out of the transmission. This will give you access to the leaking axle seal.
When you are done putting everything back together make sure everything is torqued properly, that you have replaced any cotter pins you removed, and your transmission fluid is filled to the proper level.
To remove the axles you will need to remove the 36mm axle nut. Power tools are good but if you don't have them you can usually get to the nut through the wheel as long as the center cap is removed. Leave the car in gear to hold it still and use a long breaker bar to remove (and later install) the axle nut. Jack up the car and put it on stands. Remove the wheels, remove the nut holding the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Hammer on the steering knuckle near the tie rod end until it breaks free (be careful not to hit the tie rod end itself). Lift the tie rod out from the steering knuckle, you should be able to move the steering knuckle left and right freely now. Disconnect the upper or lower ball joint the same way you did the tie rod end (your choice, most people disconnect the lower joint, I personally prefer the upper on Integras). Unbolt the strut fork at the bottom. Hit the end of the axle with a rubber mallet to break it loose from the hub (if you don't have a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer put the axle nut back on the end of the axle upside down and thread it down until it is flush with the end of the axle and hit it with a normal hammer, this will prevent you from mushrooming out the end and damaging the threads). Once the axle is loose you should be able to turn and pull the steering knuckle to move it to a position where you can pull the outer end of the axle out. Now crawl under the car, using a long screwdriver or a pry bar you can pop the other end of the axle out of the transmission. This will give you access to the leaking axle seal.
When you are done putting everything back together make sure everything is torqued properly, that you have replaced any cotter pins you removed, and your transmission fluid is filled to the proper level.
Last edited by Double Agent; 08-22-2012 at 06:04 PM.
08-22-2012, 05:47 PM
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Re: Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
Search EricTheCarGuy on YouTube and look up his video "How To Replace a Front Wheel Drive Axle. He has some really good DIY videos.
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08-22-2012, 08:47 PM
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Re: Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
You need to clarify with your mechanic exactly what seals he is talking about. More than likely it's the axle seals. You remove the axles, then pop the seal out with some leverage. You can use a small pry bar, a screwdriver, or a seal puller. To install the new ones, find a socket roughly the same diameter as the seal and use it to help tap in the new seal. This will ensure you have even pressure around the new seal and don't damage it. Then reinstall your axles.
To remove the axles you will need to remove the 36mm axle nut. Power tools are good but if you don't have them you can usually get to the nut through the wheel as long as the center cap is removed. Leave the car in gear to hold it still and use a long breaker bar to remove (and later install) the axle nut. Jack up the car and put it on stands. Remove the wheels, remove the nut holding the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Hammer on the steering knuckle near the tie rod end until it breaks free (be careful not to hit the tie rod end itself). Lift the tie rod out from the steering knuckle, you should be able to move the steering knuckle left and right freely now. Disconnect the upper or lower ball joint the same way you did the tie rod end (your choice, most people disconnect the lower joint, I personally prefer the upper on Integras). Unbolt the strut fork at the bottom. Hit the end of the axle with a rubber mallet to break it loose from the hub (if you don't have a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer put the axle nut back on the end of the axle upside down and thread it down until it is flush with the end of the axle and hit it with a normal hammer, this will prevent you from mushrooming out the end and damaging the threads). Once the axle is loose you should be able to turn and pull the steering knuckle to move it to a position where you can pull the outer end of the axle out. Now crawl under the car, using a long screwdriver or a pry bar you can pop the other end of the axle out of the transmission. This will give you access to the leaking axle seal.
When you are done putting everything back together make sure everything is torqued properly, that you have replaced any cotter pins you removed, and your transmission fluid is filled to the proper level.
To remove the axles you will need to remove the 36mm axle nut. Power tools are good but if you don't have them you can usually get to the nut through the wheel as long as the center cap is removed. Leave the car in gear to hold it still and use a long breaker bar to remove (and later install) the axle nut. Jack up the car and put it on stands. Remove the wheels, remove the nut holding the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Hammer on the steering knuckle near the tie rod end until it breaks free (be careful not to hit the tie rod end itself). Lift the tie rod out from the steering knuckle, you should be able to move the steering knuckle left and right freely now. Disconnect the upper or lower ball joint the same way you did the tie rod end (your choice, most people disconnect the lower joint, I personally prefer the upper on Integras). Unbolt the strut fork at the bottom. Hit the end of the axle with a rubber mallet to break it loose from the hub (if you don't have a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer put the axle nut back on the end of the axle upside down and thread it down until it is flush with the end of the axle and hit it with a normal hammer, this will prevent you from mushrooming out the end and damaging the threads). Once the axle is loose you should be able to turn and pull the steering knuckle to move it to a position where you can pull the outer end of the axle out. Now crawl under the car, using a long screwdriver or a pry bar you can pop the other end of the axle out of the transmission. This will give you access to the leaking axle seal.
When you are done putting everything back together make sure everything is torqued properly, that you have replaced any cotter pins you removed, and your transmission fluid is filled to the proper level.
I am extremely grateful for this information. I am curious, can you use any ATF or should I buy the ATF from an acura dealer? What brand/kind of coolant should I use? I need to drain and fill the radiator.
Thanks again!
08-22-2012, 08:48 PM
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08-23-2012, 11:46 AM
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Re: Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
OKay so I am going to upload pictures. I cannot get the axle out of the intermediate shaft. I just need to replace the trans seal with the intermediate shaft connects into. Does it have any bolts holding the IM Shaft in?
08-23-2012, 04:19 PM
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Re: Need advice, replacing transaxle seals.
The axle pops out of the intermediate shaft just like the other one pops out of the transmission. They tend to stick in the intermediate shaft, use a pry bar and maybe a hammer to get it out. When you reinstall the axle into the intermediate shaft cover the splines with some anti-seize. The intermediate shaft bolts to the back of the engine block.
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