Tranny Seal Leak

[FFW]

Found out yesterday car was making cracking noise from transmission. Drained it and found out had less half a cup of brown dookie. Just simply amazes me how bad the last owner took care of it. Put in new tran fluid even sealment treatment and just simply cure it. But of course it can never be an easy for me. Noticed it leaked after i rode it a while (if not only when engine gets warm enough) Searched around and found out the seal is the culprit. Now will i have to completely move the transmission? or can i do it on jack stands? Difficulty level?

[JPT]

If it's axle seals, you can do it with the trans in the car. Drain the fluid, pull the axles, carefully remove the old seals, soak the new ones in oil and carefully put them in (a large socket works well).

[mechanicaldj]

you do not have to drain the fluid , just put back what was lost

you can pull the axles out one at a time

and do not soak the new seal in ATF,
i do not know why you would want to soak the seal in ATF, since they are synthetic seals

sometimes the CV axle shaft can be difficult to remove from the transaxle
and the stake nuts require a large socket to remove(29 MM )

but not too difficult of a job

[ejp2fast]

i have had a bad time with these seals... replaced them twice with the same results.. still leak.. used the perfect size socket and everything... tappped it in slow and square in the hole, and got rid of all nicks etc....

still leaks.

but i isn't too bad to take the axles out.. just break the wheel nut when the car is on the ground, makes it easier.

[JPT]

...and do not soak the new seal in ATF,
i do not know why you would want to soak the seal in ATF, since they are synthetic seals

I guess the idiots at AutoZone don't know what they're talking about (which doesn't surprise me).

[FFW]

is there a "how to" or DIY step by step on changing these seals?

[eurotiva]

Mine leaked bad. Under a big load the pass.. side axle was pushing out enuf to make it leak. So when I installed new seals I left it sticking out thousandths of an inch and it worked. Also check your lower ball joints because if they are bad the spindle can move outward and make them leak.

[V8Festiva]

you do not have to drain the fluid , just put back what was lost

you can pull the axles out one at a time

and do not soak the new seal in ATF,
i do not know why you would want to soak the seal in ATF, since they are synthetic seals

sometimes the CV axle shaft can be difficult to remove from the transaxle
and the stake nuts require a large socket to remove(29 MM )

but not too difficult of a job

Sam.1956 reported this on another thread.

"I've seen 3 different socket sizes required on the various Festiva's I've worked on."

I was there when the 3 different sizes were found.

Dean
Raleigh, NC

[CharlieZ]

If there is a groove worn in the axel where the seal rides, a new seal may not do the job. There is a products out there - aimed mostly at industry and the big vehicle/motors - that allows the shaft surface to be restored with thin sleeve. Sealmasters is the name. Here's a UK link.

http://www.sealmasters.co.uk/sleeves.htm