i have a 94 del sol Vtec b16a3... i have a trans leak but only when i drive. when i drive trans fluid escapes from where the axle shaft goes into the transmission. I was told it could be a bad seal. has this happened anyone? is it an easy fix? what is the seal called? please help!

 

yeh, most of the time its the seal inbetween the axel. im cant remeeber wat its called exactly. but if u go to autozone and tell them u need a transmission seal between the axle they should know. if u throw enough names, theyll figure it out too

 

It is called an axle seal, and it looks like a small skinny donut.


It is probably the easiest seal to replace in the whole car, seriously! No special tools are needed, just a little common sense and an hour or so of your time.

You have to remove the axle.
1. Drain the transmission.
2. remove the hub nut.
3. break apart the lower control arm at the lower ball joint.
4. Push the hub out of the way.
5. use a flat blade screwdriver to pry the inner CV joint from the transmission housing. (Be careful not to pull the axle out because you could separate the CV joint!)

Then you remove the axle seal.
1. Use either and seal puller or, since you are going to replace the thing anyway, use a thin flat head screwdriver to pry it out. (Be careful and make sure you dont chisel away the aluminum housing.) Usually, of you tap the seal on one end it will spin out of place where you can grab it with a pair of pliars and give a good yank.
2. Clean the area with a soft rag.
3. Drive the new seal into place until the edge of the seal is flush with the outser edge of the case. You can use a seal driver or if you lack that tool, a socket of equal size of the seal with an extension in it to use as a drift. Just tap it gently into place, making sure you are driving the metallic portion of the seal and not the rubber part as it might tear.
4. Make sure the entire outside edge of the seal is flush with the transmission case. If it is off kilter a little, it will lead to premature wear.

Reinsert the axle until the C clip on the the inside part of the inner CV join snaps into place. (This can be tricky at times, but you will be able to feel it when it sets in place)

Then merely reassemble the hub and you are done.

The seals can be purchased at a local parts store for about $11.00 a piece.

I always like to pick up new axle nuts when I disassemble that part of the car, but if you didnt damage the nut when you removed it, it can probably be reused. Remember to "Restake" the nut in place one it is torqued to the proper spec.

Hope this helps. Proabably the hardest part to this is separating the lower control arm at the lower ball joint.

A trick I picked up here (And it really works) is to jack the lower control arm up until you can slide a 1/2 inch ratchet handle between the lower control arm and the strut assembly. Then release the jack and simply kick the lugs and the thing pops apart. It is much easier than using a ball joint separater, and much safer on the ball joint.

Also, while you are under there and doing one side, remember that the seals were probably put in the car at the same time. So, while you are doing one and have all that fluid out of the tranny, you might as well go ahead and do the other side as well.

Again, I hope this helps.

 

thanks guys for the info. i will plan to do this pretty soon and i will tell you how it goes. again thanks guys