Hi,
69' auto and I have a leaking shift linkage seal. Can this be done with the body on the car??? I see there's a tool out there but there is limited room and I can't see how it will work. The thing that sucks is that I replace all the seals but that one...I didn't even think about it and this was all done while the body was off.

Thoughts on how to do this??

 

This question has been asked and answered 100 times since I've been on this Forum. Yes you can fix it in the car. Disconnect the shift cable from the shift shaft sticking out of the tranny. Clean that area WELL. Buy a new shift shaft seal. Put grease on the shift shaft. Use an appropriately sized deep-well socket to drive the leaky seal to full depth of that bore (diameter of socket should be as close to the bore diameter as possible without being snug in the bore). Lube the seal lip on the new piece, carefully install it over the shaft and do not slice the lip on the sharp edges of the shaft shaft flats, then use that socket to drive the new seal on top of the old one. And NO, there is no problem created by doing that. Reinstall the shift cable and drive on!!

 

I have the tool and was able to use it but very tight area to work in. I also installed a second seal just for insurance.

 

What tool manufacture did you use? I assume they're the same length but some look a little shorter. I picked up on of the seals at autozone. Which way does it go in?

 

The metal case faces outward...pointed seal lip on the inside. If the outside of the casing appears to be painted, that is actually a sealant. Once you drive the old seal inward (being careful to not scratch or gouge the shaft O.D.), clean the bore well and wipe down with a volatile cleaner like lacquer thinner, etc. Then you can install the new seal. If you have a piloted driver tool, great. If you don't just try to carefully keep the seal square to the axis of the shaft, so that it doesn't get twisted or distorted.

I'm sure that you will do fine. Remember, the new seal only has to seal the small amount of leakage past the old seal.

 

I'll give it a go and see what happens! Thanks for your help!