Leaky half-shaft seal

[zoe60]

This is a long story. About 1 year ago I had a clutch installed in my '89 5 speed Festiva. Not long after I noticed driver side trans./axle seal seal was leaking. Should have taken it back but didn't. Replaced seal. lasted 2 days and started leaking again. Guy at Napa said it probably had a bad transmission mount so I replaced it and the seal for a second time. Lasted 2 days and started leaking again. (Transmission mount Was turned around backwards and I fixed that.) All this time the Wheel bearing was getting louder so I replaced it and while in the process I replaced the seal for the third time. You guessed it- the darned thing started leaking after 2 days. The car runs great and shifts smooth as glass. The leak isn't bad so I just keep driving it but I hate the little oil spots on my garage floor. What the heck could cause such a thing? Both axles are about 1.5 years old. Front trans. mount was one replaced. Don't know how to check rear but looks OK. I'm frustrated and lost.

[zoe60]

Told you this is a long story - When i replaced the axles, The trans. fluid spilled on the ground so I refilled with ATF per owners manual. The old stuff looked and smelled different. what should I use?

[joes91fest]

wow, I thought I was alone. I just replaced my engine and the pass side axle came out very hard. I have also replaced the same seal 4 times in the last month. The tranny fluid that came out of mine was Dex III and never leaked before the engine swap.I also replaced the axle 2 times when I put in the new seal.I was thinking about tring a heaver oil.

[zoe60]

Thats what I'm thinking, hope it will help, maybe 90w gear oil. Hope it won't hurt trans.

[packrat427]

Do not use 90wt.
Recommended oil is Dextron /Mercon III of IV

Why you are cutting seals so quickly , I am not sure , Maybe cutting them or pinching them when it is going back together .

Someone here had this same problem , I just cant remember what the cure was , someone will chime in .

[Hot_Wheels]

i have a trans leak on my g25mr set up now i changed my half shaft seals those are dry but im leaking fluid from where the shift rod goes into the trans. the trans shop said the shaft is on to much of a pitch. i am not sure if this is simmalr to the shift linkage on the 1.3 motors but look at the shift linkage and see if its wet there. if so it needs a new o ring

[joes91fest]

I checked under my shift rod boot and its dry. My leak is defently comming from the axle seal. I even tried 2 differnt seal brands, CRC and National. I was thinkikng of trying to get a seal from Ford. I know the seals that came out were original. Dont know if it would make a difference.

[gdawgs]

I'd say either you are damaging the seals when you put them in, or there is something wrong with the axle(are there any burrs on it??). You must be getting pretty good at taking it apart by now

If you are positive that you are installing the seals correctly and not damaging them, then I'd spend $50 on a rebuilt axle and give that a try.

[zoe60]

This last time I had the steering knuckle out so it was easy to put the axle in straight. I did measure from the trans. to the inner CV joint. The good side is 3/8", and the leaky side is 1/2". I took the big nut off and whacked it with a piece of wood and a BFH. It went to 3/8". Don't know for sure if it's fixed yet. They can be tricky because it always felt like it was in all the way.