I've gone at college the last couple of weeks, and when I came home it looks like my car has all of a sudden leaked out all of the trans.(400 THD) fluid. I put the vette up on jackstands and it seems to be leaking out of the back of the trans. where the driveshaft connects. I'm fairly young, and not as mechanically inclined as most here. I just want to know how big of a job is it to pull the shaft and replace that seal. Also I've read that on older drive shafts they maybe develop rust spots or "burrs" that tear those seals down easily. If this is true, what is the best way to remove. Any helpful advice would be great. Thanks in advance.


Austin
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If it is the back seal, chance are you have an easy fix. You pull the driveshaft, [place pan under tailshaft so you don't make a mess] and replace the tailshaft seal. Usually can be pried out with screw driver, or use a seal puller if you can either rent or afford to buy one. Check the yoke [ the thing on the end of the drive shaft that goes into the transmission] for grooves cut into it by the old seal. Yes the seal can cut grooves in the steel yoke over a long period of time. If this is the case you have a couple of options, buy a new yoke, or possibly get a speedy sleeve for the yoke. The speedy sleeve is a machined band of metal that slides on the yoke and is usually glued into place to present a new surface for the seal to ride on covering up the grooves cut by the seal. If you use the speedy sleeve you will have to tell your parts man the correct make and model and application as they make these sleeves for all different things. Chicago Rawhide [seal maker] makes these seals. They are usually priced about half of what the yoke would cost you. If you cannot find a speedy sleeve for your application you will probably have to buy a new yoke. The other thing you should do with the seal is to give the lips of the seal a light coating of lithium grease to lubricate and make pliable the new seal. This will prevent the yoke from tearing the new seal when you start driving.

 

thanks for the info. I figured it out yesterday after no one posted for a while. I unbolted the four bolts, tapped the yoke into the tranny, then did as you said and pulled the yoke with a screwdriver. The PITA part of the job was getting the seal out. It looked like the last person who put the seal in used lok-tite or something similar. Luckily my yoke and housing were fine. The seal was just worn out. Once again thanks alot for taking the time. I was begining to think forum members had something against me

 

I think that it takes a little while for people around here to develop a dislike for you. I think your safe.

Nice job on the seal.