How to fix leak at the gear selector lever on side?

[2QUIK6]

I have a pretty good leak where the gear selector lever goes into the transmission.
How easy is it to fix this?
Does the pan need to be dropped?
And can the seal be purchased at a regular auto store?
*
Never touched tranny except to change the filter, can't remember if the gear selector arm goes right thru and is exposed when the pan is off.
Thanks

 

[oldtimer]

This could be a very easy fix if the rod going thru the transmission case is not scored. There is a seal just behind the shift arm. Take off the shift arm to remove it. Taking the pan off is not necessary if the rod is not scored but "will be" if it is scored badly. A scored rod should be replaced. I've just completed this seal replacement myself. About a half hour job.

I bought a seal from GM. Only a couple of bucks.

Good luck. I hate oil leaks.

 

[chris718]

there is also a tool that takes it out without opening trhe unit.try screwing a sheet rock screw into the seal.do this after looking at the relacement one to get an idea of what your doing,and then pull out the screw with a vice grip.out will come the seal.install the new one with a 9/16 socket and a rubber mallt

 

[petesgn]

The tool looks like this

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/KD-2393.html

Chris is right all you have to do is remove the seal with a screw and make sure there are no burs on the shaft ,and just drive in the new seal.

 

[2QUIK6]

Cool, Pep Boys had the seal. I didn't have much luck with the screw idea, maybe the one's I had were too large. What I ended up doing was driving a couple of finishing nails in it then bending the nail 90 degrees and then pulling on the nail with vice-grips.
I got it out, but the back face which the nails were running into has just a few small nicks on it now...that doesn't appear to be a sealing surface ....
This is on my TTA so its real tight compared to the GN to "hammer" the seal in...I had just enough room to get about a 1.5" swing..got it tapped in but it was slightly crooked, so I off centered the 9/16 socket and tap some more, got the part that was not in to seat, but I also bent it slightly....so far after 2 hours it has no sign of leaking there so hopefully it doesn't matter.

Thanks for the help

 

[2QUIK6]

No leaks on the seal even with it slightly bent/dented...glad it was just that simple thing...I'd already had the pan off twice before thinking it was the pan seal since it had fluid all the way around the pan.....it was dripping out of the shift shaft seal onto the top of the gasket and then it went all the way around the pan starting from the front.
Thanks for the help.