Is my trans ruined? Please help!

[S13Hitman]

So I was in a little fender bender the other day and only hit the car in front of me @ maybe 10-15 mph. There was no damage to the other car other than some scratches but of course my car got screwed up. I have pictures of everything but photobucket is being a beotch right now.
The trans is leaking a little and looks like it is coming from the axle/shaft right where it meets the transmission. It drips down to the bolt on the trans and then onto the ground... It's on the drivers side and I was told that if the seal is broke or cracked that the trans is done for.

Please help me guys!!

[ejp2fast]

hmmmm... someone else may have to chime in to be sure, but it depends on how hard you were hit, and from what angle. your axle shafts may be shot as it messed up the CV. was the axle pushed into the transmission? was it only head-on collision? that info would help.

Edit: reading this more, sounds like at the speed of impact and severity, you may have just pulled the half shaft axle out, thus a small leak... may just need new output shaft seals (do both)

[lessersivad]

Edit: reading this more, sounds like at the speed of impact and severity, you may have just pulled the half shaft axle out, thus a small leak... may just need new output shaft seals (do both)

I was thinking the same thing. I'm also thinking that you really don't want to have both shafts pulled out at the same time because of something dropping out of place in the differential. Is that correct?

[ejp2fast]

I'm also thinking that you really don't want to have both shafts pulled out at the same time because of something dropping out of place in the differential. Is that correct?

doens't matter if you have both out.... i've done both. the spline in the transmission doesn't move.

[Pu241]

The trans is leaking a little and looks like it is coming from the axle/shaft right where it meets the transmission. It drips down to the bolt on the trans and then onto the ground... It's on the drivers side and I was told that if the seal is broke or cracked that the trans is done for.

Have similar issue with mine.
Bumped a curb with the passenger side wheel in the winter and popped the driverside axle out.
The axle seals on the tranny are easy replaced with the axle out.

I would be careful about removing both axles at once.
I believe there is sufficient evidence that removing both axles and disturbing the transmission, by engaging gearing via the clutch or possibly something less innocuous, will cause something critical to "drop" from it position inside the tranny.
I know there are also many instances were both were removed and all was fine.
I just wouldn't take the chance, as you can only replace one axles/axle seal at a time anyway.

[S13Hitman]

I hit the person in front of me with my bumper. Not with my wheel, however when I did hit the car I tried to swerve so my wheels were turned to the right. The main damage is to my headlight, blinker, bumper.... So the car hit straight on and that's why I can't believe the trans is leaking. Here's the pics

[S13Hitman]

http://www.mypicx.com/09162009/car/

Could I get away with driving it to my buddy's shop that is about 20 miles away?

[m715]

Just me, but the mounting point of the sway bar may be pushed back far enough to have the axle cocked to one side causing the leak from old trns seal. Once you get the radiator support pulled back to it's proper position, alignment of the LCA may return to where it should be solving the problem. You may also find that the sway bar has bent too. I have seen this before, and the axle will tend to keep popping out, and will wear on the case if you don't get the support straight. Other than that, it probably is not hurt very badly, and can be fixed. The radiator support/reinforcement is very weak, and will bend easily in the hit like yours looks like. Shtinky has a reconstructed vehicle title due to a hit like this where the insurance totaled the car. I have driven it for 6 yrs now after the repair.

HTH
Michael

[S13Hitman]

Thank you for all the quick feed back guys! This website is awesome!
So with is what said, what should be my steps? What should I do/order first?
I figure what needs to be replaced: support bar for bumper, headlight assembly, sidemarker assembly, out put shaft on drivers side.... What am I missing here and what order should I shoot for?
Thanx all! You guys are the shizzle!

[m715]

Look closely at the support, and you can still see how it is out of shape slightly. It runs, drives, and tracks correctly with even tire wear as long as the sway bar keeps the LCA in the proper position. Still havent replaced some parts to finish him.

[m715]

I would take a close look at where the damage ACTUALLY is before jumping into an expensive repair. Chances are, if the damage is as it looks, you may be able to straighten the support yourself,(cheap) or have minimal time spent on a frame machine to pull it back to spec. I was able to to do it myself after buying the car this way, replacing the headlight/sidemarker, and sway bar with spares that I had with the intention of mine being a "spare" car. Now, 6 yrs later........

[Kraig]

Supposedly the sides gears in the differential can fall out with the axles pulled....and end up in an undesireable place!

[GenevaDirt]

Thank you for all the quick feed back guys! This website is awesome!
So with is what said, what should be my steps? What should I do/order first?
I figure what needs to be replaced: support bar for bumper, headlight assembly, sidemarker assembly, out put shaft on drivers side.... What am I missing here and what order should I shoot for?
Thanx all! You guys are the shizzle!

Hitman....take a moment and edit your profile....add where you are located. Someone may be near that could lend a hand or may have parts that could help.

[S13Hitman]

^ Yes sir! Thanx

[MONSOON]

Oh man, theres a few guys down there that may be willing to help if you need it.