Front seal?

[EFFNQWKWE4]

Hi guys! I've got a problem that I think I know the answer to, but I'd like some other opinions. My car is an 87 WE4 with 136,000 miles on it. The car was 100% stock when I bought it about 7 months ago( not even a pass. side breather!). Last week it started puking trans fluid from the front of the transmission (It drips off of the crossmember). Now, I new it was leaking a little when I bought the car, but this is a serious enough leak that I can actually call it "puking". The car still shifts fine, and has run flawlessly since I bought it, I just have to keep an eye on the trans fluid level and add when necessary. I think that it's the front seal. If it is, about how much is this going to cost me to repair? And, if I need the work done, should I go to my local Turbo 6 shop (I'm lucky enough to have one), or can any transmission place fix it? Sure could use some quality advice on this one, guys. Thanks in advance for all of your help!

 

[HOTTOGO]

Don't know what they would charge? and I would think "any trans shop" could do it, but I'm always leary when I hear "just any trans shop" ya never know what their gonna do/find or charge and what quality of work? it's best to use one with a known good reputation. If it just a seal without any other cause for it other than age it can be correctly done by following this,

quote WE4; "In pump bushing bore the 690 pump bodies have a "step" at which the bushing seats against when installed. The 082, 149 bodies do not, so we mill a slot on three sides of bushing bore 1/4 inch down. After red loctiting the teflon coated bushing, press in hole with arbor press and bushing driver. Then , "peen" the bushing or "stake" the bushing into the milled flats. Flip over , and press in red loctited seal into seal bore. "

 

[87 grand]

Front seal leak ?

If your tranny is shifting fine, better check the 2 trans fluid lines passing under the motor and motor mount/crossmember area.

My lines were resting on the crossmember area and after 15 yrs, the sides of the lines wore a small hole in them. It only leaked when the car was running. But fluid ran all over the convertor cover and pan, making it look like a front seal leak.

Check there first.......

James

 

[Clay Thompson]

Front seal

You should be able to replace the front seal yourself, if you can get the trannie out. How much can you bench press. First make certain you do not have too much ATF in the trannie by checking when hot as this could generate similar problems.

HOTTOGO gave you instructions that included replacing the front bushing, which requires front pump removal. You can replace the front seal without disassembling the trannie.

With the trannie out CAREFULLY (do not damage/dig into the alumunim face of the pump) use a flat chisel to to raise the edge of the seal all the way around. Keep working the edge up until the seal falls out. Clean surface the seal went into and the flat area it rested against with acetone. Put a VERY thin layer of red Loctite on the seal surface and some on the seal itself. Position the seal and use a very large washer to protect the face of the seal when you carefully drive it in--it will "rock" back and forth but will evetually "catch" and needs to be driven in equally on all sides. Put a little oil on seal rubber and reinstall the convertor and trannie.

With all that said it is probable that the front seal is bad but that the failure was caused by another problem due to the high miles on your car. If that is the case, the new seal will not cure your problem. Whether you try depends on how cheap or poor you are and your tolerance for self flagalation.

If the seal still leaks go back to HOTOGO's instruction and start again. The bushing could be worn and causing the problem, or it could be someting more involved.

Search the board, seems like the futility of front seal replacement was previously discussed.

 

[EFFNQWKWE4]

Awesome...thanks so much for the help, guys! I appreciate all of the good advice!
- Derek