Hello everyone
I've got a 1995 civic dx hatch with an auto trans.
I've been meaning to replace the passenger side axle because the boot is torn, but replacing the boot seems too tedious and not much cheaper than the axle itself, so I'm buying a used one off Offerup.
I know how to do the axle replacement, I've done plenty of things to the car, but I didn't know prior to today that the axle seals against the transmission.
I've read that its hard to get the seal in without making it leak after, which scares me because I don't want it to leak since it doesn't at the moment.
Which leads me to my questions:
Do I need to replace the seal if it's not leaking currently?
Is it really as notoriously problematic as people make it out to be?
Do I gotta completely drain the trans to replace the axle?
Thank you guys in advance

 

As long as you dont damage the seal in removal, or installation, it should be just fine. Gotta make sure you pull the shaft straight out, and put it straight in, I think most people that get a leak after is because the shaft isnt quite seated all the way in, or they damage their seals (dont wanna bang the axle against the seal, mostly gotta worry about that in installation rather than removal). Just make a note of how far the axle is in the transmission before removal. Should go back in just as far. And if it does by chance leak after installation, try re-seating it. I have had that happen before, after re-seating i was good to go. They can be kinda tricky to get in and seated all the way.

As for the fluid, ive only ever done manual axles, and i just drained the fluid in a clean container and re-used it, but idk if you would wanna do that for an auto trans